Finally.....

I have been sooooo so so sick this week and have not been able to post. No ramblings, no works of art, no nothing. I am finally feeling better and here are the things I was able to create while recovering from strep throat. I had a cold for a week last Friday and struggled through Monday of this week, working on my Valentine's projects, but Tuesday I was down for the count and with the cold shakes. I dragged myself (and Madeleine) to the Doctor, who pronounced me sick with strep and in need of antibiotics. We left the Doctor with a prescription for me and two Strawberry Shortcake stickers and a prescription for Madeleine. I passed on the stickers. Now here it's Thursday and three days of those good antibiotics and some Advil and I am on the road to recovery. I have taken a nap with Madeleine every day this week and not felt guilty. I am not sure if I have been influenced by the commerical but I also feel my Nyquil doesn't quite have the kick it used to. Anyway the project on the table right now is a sweet sixteen invitation I am making for a young lady who will be turning well, 16 soon. They are seven altered mailboxes done in the flowers for you paper. They are a work in progress and I will post the final when it is finished.


Please bear with me the spell check does not seem to be working so I await my editor to forward any corrections he may find. I think I got most of them......

Words a Plenty

These are my teacher gifts for Valentine's Day. I spent Monday of this week catching up on Trashy TV and cutting out the letters to alter these words. I made two Wisdom, a Kindness and an Inspire. I used mostly K and Co paper to transform the plain Vanilla letters into this awesomeness. I also went to Laurie's wedding on the Real Housewives of Orange County and was able to stomach two elimations from the Rock of Love II. I still need to catch up on my One Tree Hill and the Millionare Matchmaker but both seem to be on way past my bedtime.

Yet, another Nugget Box

I was on to bring a Make and Take project to the monthly Inkett Meeting in January. I went with this criss cross box. I found the pattern online and it was very easy to score and cut. I saw a card on another blog that used the rock and roll technique on the scallop from the Sale-a-bration set and really liked the accent with the "One of a Kind" Set and coordinating Boho Blossom punch so I decided this would be a worthy project. I love this color combination it is Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal and Tempting Turquoise. I used the DSP to cover more of those Hershey Nuggets and put them in a medium cello bag.

Princess of Preschool

You know I can't resist showing off my kids. This was Madeleine this morning heading out the door to preschool. Yes, she was wearing her crown. Yes, she went and found this crown because it is her most comfortable AND it lights up! She did choose to put it in her cubby with her coat once we got to preschool. Being a princess means you have to know when not to be a show off.

Is it Valentine's Day Yet?

These are the baskets of goodies for Jackson's, Dylan's and Madeleine's class for Valentine's Day. I am glad they are finished. Jackson and Dylan still have to sign their store bought Valentine's but I am at least one step closer with the goodies.








This is the Valentine goody for Jackson's class. I took help where I could get it. I feel like Sandra Lee from the Food Network. This is a semi-homemade Valentine. I got these cute take-out boxes at the Christmas Tree Shop (they were a deal 4 for $1.29). I filled them with pre-packaged conversation hearts and hershey chocolate, closed them up, then stamped a tag and tied it on with ribbon, Viola! This year having three classes to create for has been overwhelming so I have embraced the "take help where you can get it" way of thinking!








This is the goody for Dylan's class, I made 24 of these stinkin' cute cello bags with topper. The mouse with the heart and the saying come from the "A Happy Heart" stamp set. I punched him out with the tag punch. The flower comes from the "One of a Kind" stamp set and I punched it out with the boho blossom punch. Not all the flowers are the same, the punch and stamp are for three different flowers, I used them all. I can't see the first graders getting worked up because their flowers were different. I filled the cello bags with the prepackaged conversation hearts, they just scream VALENTINE, but I had to add chocolate too, it is behind the hearts but it is there!








I made these boxes for Madeleine's class. I made 14 of these boxes that hold a box of conversation hearts and her Tinkerbell Valentine. I love the rock and roll technique on the big scallop flower. I think it is my new favorite. You will be seeing a lot of that in the future, it is a good go to WOW. This is a knock off of the box I did as a Make and Take at the Inkett Meeting in January.

What can you do with the Rub Ons?

This little jar was fifty cents at the Christmas Tree Shop. I used the rub on's from Sale-a-bration for the white flower and the "for you" sentiment. I Mod Podged the top with Cutie Pie DSP and wrapped those wonderful nuggets from Hershey's with more Cutie Pie DSP. I lost my bashful blue grosgrain somewhere in my stamp studio (it did eventually surface) so I used white grosgrain and the new stripped wasabi ribbon to finish it off. I was just playing with the new rub ons and this is how it turned it out!

Race Day

This was Dylan's first Pinewood Derby Day and he was super excited to be there. The Tiger Dens raced last so he had to wait and wait and wait.

Madeleine was very excited to see her friends and play with Grandma Margi, not so much into the car race.

Jackson and Grandpa ready to see Jackson's car race down the track.

Jackson's car is the car in the top of the picture. This year he went with a Celtic's Basketball themed car. This was his first race, he ran against all green cars. He took first in this race.

Dylan's car this year was a World Champ Red Sox themed car. His car is the blue car in the yellow lane in this picture.

Grandma Margi, Madeleine and Dylan watching his car zoom down the track.

Roussin vs. Roussin - Jackson is in the yellow lane and Dylan is in the green lane.

Mike and Grandpa waiting for our next race.

Mary (a fellow Stampin' Up! Demonstrator) and I in the concession stand. I was helping, Mary was in charge.

The final results were Jackson won the over Webolo Division and Dylan won the over all Tiger Cub Division and Jackson took home the big trophy by taking the overall win. All in all a great Race Day!

Another Nugget Box

Another Nugget Box, using the Bali Breeze paper, Embrace Life Stamp Set and Hershey Nuggets! I love this color combo.

Dylan's New Hat

Mike's Mom sent Dylan this new hat yesterday and he wore it to school today. He just loves it! He says he if he had goggles he would be like the grown-ups that ski at Maple Ski Ridge, I was thinking he was going to say with goggles he would be like the Red Baron. You never know what your six year old is thinking.

Calendar is Finally Finished!

Every year (usually for Christmas) I stamp a Calendar for Mike's Mom, this year my friend Suzi stamped it for me when she was stamping one of her own for her Mom, so I can't take credit for the design. Some of the stamp sets have since retired from Stampin' Up! but it doesn't make the calendar any less awesome. So here are twelve months of Suzi's Stamping, Stacey's Scrapping and my awesome kids and nieces! I did this to go from February 2008-January 2009 - so I bought myself some time in the coming years.

How Inspired are you?

I used the Ginger Blossom DSP, the Pretties Kit, and assorted Ribbon! What do you think? It's made with Modge Podge and you know what happens when I start with the Mod Podge!

Valentine Breakfast Basket

I made a Valentine Breakfast Basket, it includes pancake mix, spatula, tea, mugs, towels, paper towels, napkins and candy all with a Valentine theme. I made toppers and belly bands for all the items. I also made a card to include, shown above.

Can I Inspire You?

I found this wood cut out for $5 at the Christmas Tree Shop, check out my blog tomorrow to see how I altered it!

Go Patriots!

Soooooo, Did you hear about them Patriots! They Rocked! They didn't play pretty or with much style but they did win and they are Superbowl bound! Mike was all smiles as his Patriots are ready to take on the the NY Giants. All Hail the Patriots! I was taking pictures last night for my blog and Mike walked in so I got his big grin!


It's Monday and I tried all morning to put up my post for today. I worked hard all weekend to have some fun things to look at today and Google and Blogspot were not working this morning! UGGGGGH! All is well now, they are up and running again and I have posted all the fun stuff.
Did I tell you my dishwasher is working! The repairman was here at 7am sharp and didn't leave until after 9:30AM, the good news is I think I am up and running now! I ran an empty to load to check and it seem to be okay, I am now loading it with dirty dishes so we go live tomorrow. I have to get some liquid soap, no more little packets here.

The kids cleaned the basement this morning, with much protest, but I finally put the Holiday Decorations back in storage and feel like I can close the book on that! We headed to the movies this afternoon and saw Alvin and the Chipmunks, really thought it was funny, Dylan LOVED it, he asked me on the way out if we could get the soundtrack because he thought the movie had really great music. For some reason my six year old asking about the soundtrack to a movie just made me laugh!

Valentine Bundle Class

These are the projects that are part of the Valentine Bundle Class this coming Friday. The first one is an altered mailbox from the $1 spot at Target with a gift card enclosure, the next is a wonderful card and the last is a cello bag filled with York Peppermint Patties that is then put into a matching box. All the projects use the "A Happy Heart Stamp Set" from the Valentine Bundle Promotion this month.

Valentine Class Cards

These are the five Valentine Projects that are part of my Valentine Class tomorrow night. I really am pleased with the way they all came out.

I really feel there is a nice variety to the projects. I like the eastern elegance of the nugget box, the shabby chic French Valentine, the funny elephant Valentine plus the traditional red and white heart Valentine.

Ingredients:

Chocolate Chip and Rose Red Valentine

Stamps: Priceless

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Rose Red

Paper: Rose Red DSP, Rose Red CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Whisper Whit

Tools, etc: Cutter Kit, Key Tab Bunch, Designer Label Punch, 1in Circle Punch, Snips, Pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon, Gold Brad, stampin' dimensionals

Mon Amie Shabby Chic Valentine

Stamps: Carte Postale, French Flair

Inks: Brocade Blue, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron

Cardstock, Brocade Blue, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, So Saffron

Tools, etc: 1/16 punch, gold brads, stampin' dimensionals, white taffeta ribbon

Together Valentine

Stamps: Year after Year, Define your life

Inks: Basic Black, Real Red

Cardstock: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White

Tools, etc: Wide Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Two Way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Blender Pen, Real Red Marker, Stampin' Dimensionals, Black Gingham Ribbon

Unforgettable Friend Valentine

Stamps: A Happy Heart

Inks: Basic Gray

Cardstock: Rose Re, Whisper White, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Cutie Pie DSP

Tools, etc: Corner Rounder, Bashful Blue Grosgrain, Work Window Punch, Watercolor crayons, blender pen

Elegant Nugget Box

Stamps: Embrace Life

Cardstock: Cameo Coral, River Rock, Ginger Blossom DSP, Whisper White

Inks: River Rock, Basic Black

Tools, Etc: Cameo Coral Marker