Trapped in a Snow Globe!!!

That is what we have been feeling like for the last week…after close to 2 foot of snow and a blizzard on February 1st..followed by several more inches of snow on February 4th…and more snow in the forecast for tomorrow evening that is how we are feeling…every now and then someone picks it up and gives it a good shake…but, there is a light at the end of the tunnel..it is suppose to warm up by the end of the week and be in the 50’s by the weekend..we will think it’s HEAT WAVE….We just aren’t use to this much snow coming all at once and staying around…We were snowed in from Tuesday till Friday…between my hubby’s wonderful brother, an awesome neighbor and the county road graders we were able to get out over the weekend..awww…who knew going to Wal Mart , the Pharmacy and the Grocery Store could be so exciting! And going back to work yesterda wasn’t too bad either..

Here are a few snow photos:

View from the front steps...

Looking north at what I call our roller coaster hills..

Another view...



                                                                  Snowed in!!!

Just a little snow to shovel to get out of the garage..

And a little to get out of the house....



from my kitchen window..the cicle in the back is where just a few short months ago we were enjoying sitting around on the tree chairs at a weiner roast...



And of course when you know you can't go anywhere you get a craving for something and mine was chocolate so I made this from scratch..with double the frosting...


You would think with all that time spent at home I would get allot of card making done but all I seemed to do was clean, cook, clean, eat, clean..and catch up on the laundry…but..I did manage to get a couple of cards made..one for an 18 old friend of a friend..not really sure what 18 yrs like these days..so I hope she liked it..I do know I liked the outcome of it so I made another one similar to it for my mother n laws birthday.

The inside

So, I am patiently waiting for Spring...the sweet smell of freshly mowed grass,  pretty yellow daffodils, the heavenly aroma of lilacs, birds singing in the trees, a nice spring rain followed by a rainbow and awww...warm sunshine againest my face looking at a gorgeous blue sky....

Just a few short weeks...

Until next time take care, stay warm and THINK SPRING!!!

Hugs T

Weekend Ramblings Etc...

It's been months since i last posted..not suprising...I just can't get myself to sit down and post..it's not really a lack of something to post..just taking the time to do so...anyway..maybe I will make that goal yet again this year...

I noticed the last time it was October and we were having some great weather..well..I wish I could have some of that back..it's been in the 30's all day..and with the windchill it's even colder..brrr...I am sooo ready  for warmer days and not what we are going to have this week..which from the forecast it looks like this could be the warmer of the days..snow is in the forecast...not sure how much..hopefully if any not very much at all and not enough to stick to the roads.

I have cards to share...I know Christmas is past but since I didn't get on here intime to post my Christmas cards I will do so..and here they are...

I made them usingmy Joys of the Season Cricut Cartridge..with glitter paper for the ornements..Simple cards..but I made around 30 of them so it took some time..and lots of glue on my hands...

I also am in a Secret Sister Swap over at http://simplyscrapping.ning.com/ and am playing hostess while our dear Christy is taking some time off to enjoy her new lil baby boy..anyway..if you are looking to be in a great Secret Sister swap that is the place to be...we do 3 month rounds and just started a round in Janaury..so if you haven't joined already then check it out and let me know and I can add your name to the waiting list...but what I wanted to share were a couple of things I made for my last SS..just a couple of things that I had been wanting to try out and decided this was the perfect time..I can also post these since she has already received her last package from me...

I made covered a lil noteboo for her and added her intial..then I took a clear desk top photo holder and did the same thing with and made it a sticky note holder..and then I altered a bullnose paper clip as a recipe holder..instead of putting an actual food  recipe card in it I added a recipe for life quote I found on the internet..

Still on http://simplyscrapping.ning.com/ I am doing one of their weekly challenges. This one is for CAS which stand for Clean and Simple..something sometimes I have an hard time with.. I always want to add extras to my cards...Anyway, along with making it CAS we also had to make it a thank you card..so here is my card for that...followed by one I made before it because I forgot that it had to be a thank you card..I was more worried about it being CAS...taught me to read and remember all the rules...I used a butterfly and heart punch for the diecuts..a white pen for the fuax stitching and the sentiment is in my own handwriting...couldn't have been easier..I tell you it took my longer to get a descent photo than it did to make the cards...I will be doing this again with differeant color of cardstock..

I think that is all I have to share today but I do want to share a link with you..Over at Sweet Magnolia Rose she is giving away a Cricut Expession with 3 cartridges..plus if you follow some other instructions she's added the chance to win a Cricut Cake Machine...

so go check it out here...http://sweetmagnoliarose.blogspot.com/2011/01/up-dated-giveaway.html#comment-form

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend and the week ahead even better...

Hugs!

T

Awesome Weather and My Latest Card

How is the weather in your part of the world?  Well, here I suppose you might call it an Indian Summer..whatever it is..it's just been wonderful..warm sunny days...cool nights...leaves are changing but, falling a little too fast..for the lack of rain we have had.  We are suppose to have rain late tonight and into tomorrow..hopefully we will get some of it...we could use a nice slow rain...

I wish you could smell my house right now..I put one of those turkey breast with the bone in it in my small roaster...it smells soooo gooood....I can't wait to dig into it tonight...I also added some veggies in there too...so supper is all done!  I love that little roaster....

Over the weekend I went Blog Hopping...don't you just love a good hop???  If you haven't done one yet then you need to!  There is always so much talent and insperation to be found when you do..you won't be disappointed...there is normally some blog candy to be given away too...and I actually won one of the goodies on this hop..thanks Emily...This hop was at Simply Scrapping Crafts which is full of talented ladies..if you aren't a member then you should check it out...anyway here is my card...

That's it for this time..hey 2 post in less than a week..hopefully...I will get in the habit of doing this..thanks for coming and please keep checking in...I may suprise you with a post!

Have a great week!

Hugs T

Squirrel Awareness week…

Earlier this month was Squirrel Awareness week…A few former co-workers and I have been celebrating this for a few years now..it actually started off as a joke for one of my friends /co-worker Rita…go here http://terryspaperpantry.blogspot.com/2008/10/im-baaack.html    to see a past celebration and learn more about the story behind why we celebrate… 

 

This year I was actually working with Rita when that time came around on a temporary basis..I was trying to come up with a lunch date with my other 2 cohorts to surprise Rita when she mentioned that she wanted to go to lunch with me before I left. So, she opened the door for me..so the date was set…So, Beth a former co-worker and great friend and Bill (Rita’s and my supervisor) along with his lovely wife Lorrie were already at the restaurant when we walked in…and Rita was totally surprised…Beth and I both had made cards for Rita along with gifts…I had bought mine on our trip to Colorado..it was just something I could not pass up!

I also had bought one for my neighbor who has Squirrels as pets…I will leave that for another story…Here is the card I made..I put my Cricut to good use with this one…I love how it came out too!

We have been doing this for about 4 yrs now and we always manage to surprise her..One of these years she will turn it around on us…
I also been doing some challenges over at http://simplyscrapping.ning.com/  and here is my latest..our challenge was to use black and white with only one other color..so I chose red to use as my other color..I had dreams about this card..and this really didn’t turn out the same as it did in my dream but I still like it…

It's hard to believe that it's the middle of October...We have had such beautiful weather lately..it's been a little up and down tempature wise ..but still so many days full of beautiful sunshine!  We could use some rain but are suppose to get that next week..so another perfect weekend is in store for us...I am not looking forward to winter and the cold temps so I am enjoying all of the warm days we are having now...

That's it for me today...

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Hugs
T

Would Love One of These

I came across a couple of blogs recently...you know how one blog seems to lead you to another and another etc...well..I love my cricut and I have been "stalking" some of the blogs that are more geared towards the using the Cricut..I have been finding so many ideas recently..especially on this blog...
http://www.cricutholiday.com/

Then to this one...
http://www.obsessedwithscrapbooking.com/

then to this gorgeous thing.....

"Limited Edition Workbox "

http://theoriginalscrapbox.com/catalog/component/content/article/6/95-wb-le-cherry

"The Original Scrapbox"

http://theoriginalscrapbox.com/catalog/

Would love to win one of these..wouldn't you..well..then you need to follow this link...

http://www.obsessedwithscrapbooking.com/

You might have to scroll down a post or two to get the instructions..but..it's worth it..and oh..don't forget to enter for the new Cricut Cartridges releases too....

Good Luck!!!

Hugs

T

We're having a HEAT WAVE...

It is early August and it is Oklahoma so what else would be having???  Better than a blizzard in so many ways...enough said..

Wanted to pop in and post a couple of recent made cards...one for the challenge on:  http://simplyscrapping.ning.com/

On this card we had to use four of the 6 colors..red, blue, pale pink, pale yellow, purple or grey...it was very hard card for me to come up with something that I liked...I'm not really crazy about it...but, then we are our worse critics are we?

and another for my dear friend Jo's aka "Yurt"  birthday which was over the weekend and she has recieved it so I can post it...

She likes turtles and I bought this paper to make a card for her in the future awhile back..I love the bright colors..doesn't it just scream summer???  And who can resist those cute little turtles swimming around on it anyway..the turtle embellishiment was done with my cricket..I did it in several layers to get the effect I wanted...

I have been looking at other blogs, joining crafting groups on facebook..and came across this blog here...

http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/

Melissa is giving away a Cricut Cake Machine for her 2 yr blog anniversary...so you should check it out..and even if you don't win it you will be a winner because she is very talented..I just fell in love with her creations..and I will be regular follower of her blog now...

Next week I will be working for 2 weeks..it's good and bad...lol...I would rather be home in my craft room...but it will let me buy a few more goodies...like I need anymore...but...a paper crafter can never have too much paper...And I will also be working with my good friend Rita...sooo..I am looking forward to that part of it!

That's all for today..will be back soon!

Stay cool..and hugs

T

Oh..to be organized..

Sometimes I wish I was more organized than I am..but, I think it's too late..the boat has sailed on that one..But, I still try...and lately I have been trying to get my little craft room organized..from the move..Sheesh..I have found stuff I completely forgot I had..Well..it's still a work in progress and probably always will be..because I will want to change it around...I wish I could just shut my eyes and wish it all done...

I have been making a few cards..Thanks to doing some weekly challenges on here: http://simplyscrapping.ning.com/...  you should check out their weekly challenges..for both scrapbookers and cardmakers..I have been doing their one on Card Corner.. http://simplyscrapping.ning.com/group/cardchatchallengecorner

Each Wednesday there is a new challenge for you to do..I just started this in July and I am on week 3..our first challenge was to make a card using a sketch..and here is what I a came up with..

I used my Cricut cart In a Child's Year to cut out the images..the paper is mostly Martha Stewart..I have always loved black sillouttes and just love this cart that makes it allot easier than cutting all this out by hand..

My 2nd challenge was to Rock and Roll..with a stamp on an ink pad..A great technique..and this is my card...

I love, love this paper that I recieved in a secret sister swap on the same group..it's 7gypsies zanzibar scrapbook pack.  

Our last challeneg was to use a sentimant and the focal point of our card and here is my take..

I had something else in mind when I started this but I have to say I am happy with the end result...

Am looking forward to the next challenge..if you have time and am up for challenge make sure you check it out...

Since my last post we have went on Vacation..to Beautiful state of Colorado...we were gone less than a week but saw so much..there is so much to see...but, the best part is that I got to meet my friend Renee...Renee and I became friends on a Scrapbooking site that is nolonger..it may not be around any more (or in the same form it was anyway)..but we remained friends and have shared allot together through the net and phonecalls so it was great getting to meet here and her 2 "lil men"...Here we are...

After sadly we left her house we were off to see the mountains..

It was all so beautiful...and I took well over 500 photos..ooo...do I ever love the didgital age in photography...

Is it hot where you are??? It is here..90's and heat index up past 100...I don't complain about heat because I hate the winter and cold months..but...I am glad we have a/c....

Guess, that's enough of my ramblings for this time..hope you are staying cool and enjoying summer...

Thanks for stopping by...

Hugs

T

It's been awhile..

Since I posted on here...once again I am going to try and do better...I miss sharing my photos, crafts and most of all ramblings...allot has happened since my last post..we fially moved...it took us awhile..and we didn't get the house we were planning to buy this time last year but we got the best house for us in the end..even if it did take awhile..and oddly enough we ended up with the first house we put an offer on back in July 2008.

 We closed on January 15th..which would of been my Mom's 77th birthday if she was still alive..so I like to think that she was smiling down on us that day.  We didn't pick the perfect time to move but I don't know if there would of been such a thing after being in our old house for 25 years.  Perfect weather wouldn't have helped with all the stuff to pack and unpack.  Although I could of done without the "thaw" at the old house and the mud we had to track through to move stuff from there. Here it's wasn't so muddy maybe because I think this hill is just one big boulder with lots of smaller rocks on top with just a enough soil to grow grass on top. But, the rocks are another story for another day..
A little over a week after we spent our first night here this is what it looked like:

And now a little over 4 months it looks like this:

We have made some changes inside and out..and it's a work in progress..we decided to paint over the blue trim in white and then replace the blue window shutters with "cranberry" and painted the front door the same color. There is also a 3 car garage with the same blue on the doors and now they are a nice crisp white..made a world of differance and it also made it feel more like it belongs to us now.  It took us awhile but it finally feels like we are home. 

I'll save more about the house for another day..

I want to share a few cards with you before I leave...

The first cardcard I made for a swap back in late January when the snow was flying...our color them was bright colors...so this is what I came up with

The 2nd card was for another swap and we had to use the colors green and purple together..although this was for a swap my swap partner is also a wonderful friend whose knock name is "turt"..and I had this image I had been wanting to use for a card for her for awhile..Isn't that the cutest turtle?

This was for another friend..easy peasy using a card kit from my local scrapbook store..the "thinking of you" though was done with a cricut.  I loved the colors they used on this one...

How is the weather where you are..is it Summer yet???  We have been above normal for almost 2 weeks and although they say we are going to have a cold spell go thru tomorrow it just means it won't be in the 90's but the upper 80's....Summer is here and I'm not complaining...although I could of done with a few more weeks of Spring it's better than the cold winter days...

I will leave you here and plan to seeing more of me...I promise..really I do..

Hugs

T

Apologies, Winner Announcement and Lake photos...

I am SO SORRY!!!! That I haven’t been back on here since the blog hop almost a month ago…No excuses…just didn’t get back here…kept forgetting that I promised some blog candy..would remember when I was away from the computer…went camping for a week…uh…I guess I said no excuses…and there I go…making them…anyway…for those of you that visited my blog during the hop and were wondering about the blog candy I promised and if you won or not..with out further ado…I had my DH tell me a number between 1-72..which is where my count was at the time…and he picked 56…so the WINNER is…Leah…Leah's comment was "I want to say that mine is family picnics at my Grandma Gigi's. She's now passed away, but I remember the special drinks and treats she would make then she'd give us sparklers to light off. We then as a family would go to our local state park for some fireworks. What a great ending to a fun filled day. I also remember Gigi's singing." Thanks for the comment...

I do have to tell you although I didn’t get back on here to announce a winner I did read each and everyone of the post…and so enjoyed reading them…they all brought back such great 4th or summer memories…I had forgotten all about sparklers for some reason this year..we always had those and how could I forget writing my name with one??? Or making stars and hearts??? I had also forgotten about one of my favorites and when we buy fireworks to shoot off here at the house..I still have to buy snakes! Oh…when I read this I almost went out and bought some..Chasing lightening bugs also brought up great memories..I still love to watch lightening bugs in the evenings…going to the lake was another fave although I never went to the lake for the 4th we did take camping trips and always enjoyed them..and for those of you that know me..know I still love to camp! Over all I think mostly what we all remember the most about the 4th or summer is that we spent it with family and friends…that’s what counts in the end.

We just got back a couple a few days ago from spending a week on the lake a couple of miles from where my DH works..so..he still worked but enjoyed the 3 mile drive one verses the 60 miles he does normally …he even rode his bike a couple of days…while he worked I played.. I spent a couple of days with my sister who loves nearby one day my 2 nieces and 3 of grand nieces were also there so it was nice seeing them and catching up…I went shopping a couple of days and made 2 scrapbook stores along with Hobby Lobby..managed to get myself lost…actually I was just turned around…after calling my DH and not getting an answer I finally figured which way I needed to go..I was actually just trying to avoid getting on and off the expressway…Which I did…and where I had made my mistake was at the beginning..I haven’t driven in this area by myself in years and it’s really grown and boy do I need to pay more attention to my surroundings more when I’m not doing the driving…I also spent time with our dogs and did allot of walking…they are such “happy campers”…in the evenings we went fishing, walking visiting with a co-worker of my DH who was also camping…had my DH’s brother,sis n law and nephew who also live nearby over for hotdogs and sausages..it was so nice to get away…and hopefully well get to do it another week soon…I tell ya I could spend the whole summer just "park hopping"...And I think it would be great fun to be a Park Host" when we retire...anyway...I better leave here before I bore you to death but I will leave you with some photos of the lake…






That last one was the view from where I was fishing...no luck in catching any fish but awww...that view was sooo relaxing...

Thanks for coming and again sorry about the delay in posting a winner...

Until next time..

Hugs and Blessings
T

Happy Birthday America!!!

Happy 4th of July and a great big welcome to Scrapbook News and Review "Oh Say Can You See 4th of July Blog Hop". As I mentioned in my last post that I will have my blog in a hop..you can find the list of all the blogs involved here… http://snrcardiverse.ning.com/ . It will last till 10 pm CST Sunday night. You will get to feast your eyes on some wonderful “red, white and blue” projects on each blog. You will also have a chance for some blog candy on some of the blogs..including mine... So, if you are starting here then please go there next so you won’t miss out on any of the talent. And if you are coming here from Sandi’s blog www.twinklininkin.blogspot.com then that means you probably started at the top and are just amazed at all the talent you have seen so far..but it's not over so make sure you go to the Ceal's blog at
www.simplybeautifulcreations.blogspot.com.

Here is my card: I am letting it do double duty since I made it originally for my June DT assignment for http://letsscrapdesignteam.blogspot.com/.

I found this image online and just fell in love with and thought it would make a great card..




Cardstock- Blue Cordinations
White-GP
Paper-Stars-Karen Foster
Denim- The Paper Patch
Embossing-Cuttlebug Dotted Swiss
Glitter Stars- Darice
Star Sticker- K& Company
Rick Rack –Paper Studio
Lace-Unknown
Ink-Stampabilities
Sentiment-Computer-Cotillion Font
Image- http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/4th-of-july.shtml

Do you have a favorite childhood 4th of July memory? One of mine would be when we were kids way, way back..pop wasn't something that we had very often...it was a treat to us..and one of the times we did get it was for the 4th. We also didn't go to a fireworks show or anything like that but we did have our own fireworks at home. Living in the country there was no rules or laws otherwise..So, we would go down to the grocery store where we would pick out our favorite pop..mine was Strawberry..back when it still came in 10 oz "glass" bottles...and also buy our fireworks all at the same time. My favorite fireworks were the little ting "snakes". You lit the end of a little round black "pill" size disk..it would puff up and grow like a snake...They still have them but they don't seem quite as big as they were when we were kids...I suppose nothing ever does..But, they do make great memories.

So, please leave me a comment telling me your favroite childhood memory for the 4th or just a summer time memory since I hope to have people from all over the world visiting my blog today...I'll have a drawing for my "blog candy" on Monday...

Thanks for visiting and I hope however you celebrate today that it creates a great memory!

Hugs
T

July Already???

Okay, where did April, May and June run off to? Why do those 3 months seem to go faster than January, February and March??? Or is it just me? Because I LOVE Spring and could really do with out Winter…

Well, last week we had 100 plus degrees for 6 straight days..this week has been cooler..mid to upper 90’s…but the humidty wasn't quite as bad..today it is trying it’s hardest to rain..hopefully it will get it done..and it’s cooler than it has been in quite awhile at this time of day..but it’s not to last..if the clouds go through then it will be in the 90’s by afternoon and it’s suppose to be 100 again on the 4th…

Speaking of the 4th! Any plans? I don’t think we have any this year..maybe just take it easy…For some reason our little bitty town holds the counties fireworks. They have had their own for years now but awhile back the larger town in the county that did hold fireworks display (is that what you call them?) was undergoing so construction work at the high school where they were held..so everyone came here to our little towns..more people donated to it etc..and the other town said they wouldn’t be able to afford it or something along those lines..anyway…we live about a mile or so where they are held (if you cut across the pasture and not go the road) so we can sit out at the end of drive and watch. It's more relaxing that way..don't have to worry about finding a parking place nor a perfect seat...we have it...at the end of drive..

On the 4th I will be in on a huge “bloghop” called…"Oh Say Can You See" 4th of July Blog Hop and you can it starts from here…http://snrcardiverse.ning.com/. But, I will be back here early on the 4th posting more about it along with my “red, white and blue” project. There are about 95 blogs involved and each one will have a project to share..There will be a list of all the blogs at SNR/Card Universe and on each blog there will be a link to the next blog. So.."hop" on back here over the weekend and I will have a card to share…

My brother brought us some fresh yellow "grean beans" the other day..Oh, my! Next to potatoes green beans are my favorite veggie and fresh out of the garden beans are just hard to beat..add in some red potaoes and I am in heaven..so I was happy to finally feast on them last night...oh...I could make a meal on them..add some fresh garden tomatoes and you have a feast in my books..I love summer and it's fresh garden veggies..YUMMY!

I am going to try and download some photos from our camping trip to Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Mo way back in May..maybe things will cooperate for me this time…Isn't the river pretty? It's not huge or anything but it's just a peaceful place to be...







When got to the camp it ws full and we had to wait on our campsite to pack up and leave..of course they were one of the last to go..but by the next morning this is what it looked like in both directions...






And here is our "baby" Gidget waiting on us to pack up..her sad look says it all....



Well, that is all for today..don't forget to come back over the weekend and check the bloghop out..until then enjoy whatever you love about summer the most..

Hugs
T