My Mother-in-Law

We lost a dear and sweet lady yesterday. Terry's Mom, Betty, just couldn't fight the infection any longer; that had put her in the hospital last Monday. The physicians told Terry and his siblings that she probably wouldn't last through the day, on Wednesday. She proved them wrong on Wednesday, but then she was not responsive at all on Thursday. She was the best Mother-in-Law a gal could wish for, a wonderful Mom of three, and a fantastic Grandma! She adored spending time with Nathan and Patrick SO much.

Monday afternoons were Grandma date day. Each Monday afternoon, after school, Terry and the boys went over for lunch and spend time with Grandma. They'd bake cookies, play outside, or just sit and color with Grandma. The boys would make an absolute mess, when they baked, but she didn't care . . . they all were having fun! :o) At 88 years young, she outlived two husbands, still lived alone, drove herself everywhere, and made the most delicious meals when we'd come over for dinner!

I've been asked to get a PowerPoint presentation together, with pictures throughout her life. It's so heartwarming to look through all these pictures and see what a wonderful life she'd had, as I'm tearing up just talking about it. We have services and such on Tuesday morning . . . so it'll probably be awhile before I post again. I just wanted to let my 'lil blog friends know what is going on. Thank you again for the thoughts and prayers, this past week!

Thanks for stopping by my craft room! Have a wonderful Easter!
Peggy

Sorry it's been so long since I posted last!

Oh my gosh, let me tell you what's been going on at our household, for the past week.
Thursday: I didn't go to work. Terry had a 102 degree temperature and was light headed every time he sat up. Days like this make me SO appreciate what Terry does during the day, everyday! If you are unaware, Terry is a stay-at-home Dad . . . has been since Nathan was born. This was the first time ever, that Terry asked me to stay at home . . . so I knew he didn't feel well! Boys got a bubble bath that night! Felt like we all needed something special, to help perk up the household!
Friday: I had already planned a vacation day at work . . . but man was I busy! I had Kindergarten Round-Up, for Patrick, in the morning and then Parent/Teacher conferences in the afternoon, with Nathan's teachers. On Friday night: Jenny came over and spent the night.
Saturday: Jenny and I had our punch class at Jeri's house and then we went to The Scrapbook Page for their free make & takes (I'll post pictures tomorrow). I started coming down with a sore throat. Saturday night was supposed to be Cousin Night (at Theresa's house), but Bruce (husband) and Brent (youngest son) were both sick. This was meant to be!! :o)
Sunday: My throat was REALLY hurting . . . being a typical Mom . . . I thought it would go away and didn't go to urgent care . . . DUMB on my part! :o)
Monday and Tuesday: Stayed home both days sick from work! I did end up going to the Dr on Monday afternoon . . . the initial strep test came back negative, but wanted to do another one. That test will come back tomorrow (48 hours). Yesterday, Terry's Mom got checked into the hospital because of dehydration and flu like symptoms. Today, Patrick and I snuggled alot . . . he had a 101 degree temperature! GEEZ! This 'lil bug just needs to go away!! The boys (and Terry) are loving it though, because I haven't been talking, or yelling, as much! :o)

I got this information from a friends blog, but just had to pass along! If you don't have a Cuttlebug, but want to try and win one . . . you've got to check out this blog! Melissa is giving away lots of blog candy, including a brand new Cuttlebug to a lucky gal that follows her blog and/or leaves a comment. Check out the details at her blog. Good luck!

I'm sorry, but this is really the first time, since last Friday, that I've even felt like checking my personal e-mails, etc. I have so many blog-friends to catch up on too! I'll post the pictures of what Jenny and I made last Saturday, at The Scrapbook Page (local scrapbooking store).

Thanks for stopping by my craft room.
Peggy

p.s. I failed to mention, when I posted the March winners, that Sandra (winner of the cardboard fairies) has a blog . . . be sure to check out Sandra's blog! She's a very creative crafty woman!

March Winners!

Congratulations to the following winners . . . drum roll please . . .

Sale-A-Bration Winner, for a Heart to Heart Punch: Jenny

1. Jenny -Timestamp: 2009-04-01 23:13:23 UTC

March Blog Candy Winner, for either Paperboard Fairies or Chipboard Queens: Sandra

1. Sandra - Timestamp: 2009-04-01 23:19:42 UTC

Sandra, please e-mail me and let me know which one you want (along with you home address).

New Stampin' Up! "Get Connected" Promotion details:
Promotion Dates: April 1-30, 2009

Customers: Spend $40 on Occasions Mini Catalog products and choose any one item from the "Under $10" page (page 208 in the Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog) for free!

Hostesses: Hold a workshop of $150 or more and choose any one item from the "Under $10" page (page 208 in the Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog) for free! You also receive a Level 1 hostess stamp set + $15 in free Stampin' Up! products!

Thanks for stopping my my craft room! Congratulations gals!
Peggy

Last post for March . . .

Okay . . . here's your last chance to enter into the March Blog Candy drawing! If you follow, you get another entry too!

I needed to make a few birthday cards, for April. The one on the left is from the Botanical Blooms stamp set (Sale-A-Bration) and the one on the right is from the Vases in Vogue stamp set (retired). I'm going to be sending our Easter cards out this weekend, so everyone gets 'em in time! FUN! There's a new Stampin' Up! promotion starting tomorrow . . . I'll fill you in, when I announce the March winner!

I just have to share something funny! Jenny's husband, Scott (you remember, the great chef?), is going to some NASCAR race this weekend. This left Jenny as a weekend widow. I offered for Jenny to spend the night over here on Friday night and then we have our Punch class at Jeri's on Saturday morning. After Jeri's class, we had planned on coming back to my house and scrapbooking for awhile, so I thought it worked out perfectly! Oh so much girl time! Anyway . . . Jenny wanted to make Scott a little jealous and said, "I'm going to be sleeping with another man on Friday night!" He said, "Are you planning on sleeping with Nathan or Patrick?" He was onto her! (giggling) I just had to share, I just love it when he stumps her like that! :o)

We have Cousin Night, at Theresa's house, on Saturday night too! I'm just gonna be pooped . . . crafting and a date night with my hubby, all in one weekend?! Better start resting up now! :o)

I made this little explosion box . . . I CASE'd (AKA: scraplifted) it from Dawn's Stamin' Thoughts. Dawn does little video clips 2-3 times a week. I love her little "Hi Stampers . . ." at the beginning and her "Okay, Bye" at the end! Too cute! Dawn mentions that the lid is a tight fit and she's not kidding! If you want a bit looser lid, add maybe 1/8" to the lid. We're going to give this to Terry's Mom, for Easter. I figured that we could put some little pictures of the boys inside and have them write little "love notes" on the parts that fold in. Didn't it come out cute?

Have a great day . . . thanks for stopping by my craft room!
Peggy

Inspired Scrapbook Page

ARGH! I'm really getting to hate tax season! I was all ready to turn in the tax stuff and Terry said, "Where is your Stampin' Up! inventory sheet?" I couldn't find my Excel worksheet to save my life, so I had to recreate it tonight. I hope I got everything now . . . I'm sure our tax accountant will let us know, if we've forgotten anything! :o) The tax people definitely earn their money during this season, that's all I gotta say!

Okay, now onto the fun part! Since I was scrapbooking the boys Valentine's day parties, the page had to be red . . . besides, how would you have gotten color inspiration off that page?! It was a hodgepodge of colors!

I did stay kinda close to the format, of the inspired advertisement task . . . don't 'ya think?! With a 12"x12" scrapbook page and pictures that are 4" and 5.25" wide . . . there is only so much you can do!

I'm going to being honest here . . . once I trimmed the pictures, the layout of the pictures went fast, because I had an idea of what/how I wanted the page to be ahead of time.

Okay . . . now picture this . . . you could also do this with a card . . . how about matted snowflakes (glittered of course) going down the left side of the card, with two columns? Different kind of snowflakes, but all about the same size. You could put "Let it snow" along the right side. A scrapbook page, with your kids in the snow would be perfect too! I know some of you have snowflake stamps out there . . . get busy on what you could come up with! ;o) Get inspired! Who said you can't do Christmas cards in March?

Thanks for stopping by the craft room!
Peggy

Inspiration

During Jeri's downline meeting yesterday, Jeri demonstrated that you can get inspiration from anywhere.

My "assignment" was to take the Walmart ad (left) and create a card from it. I should have Cuttlebug'd the pumpkins color . . . but I still like the layout of it. Here's what I came up with (right). Although I love the colors, I love the fall colors myself, I probably wouldn't have thought to put them all together on a card?!

Just goes to show you that you can get inspiration from anywhere! This definitely has inspired me . . . I'm going to go craft now! :o) Here's my inspiration piece (below) . . . want to know what I'm going to come back with? I'll post it tomorrow . . . I love the shabby-chic windows on this page . . . gosh, anyone know where could I find some of those?!

Look at all these posts . . . just more chances to get in on the Blog Candy drawing, on April 1st! :o)

Thanks for stopping by the craft room! Enjoy your day and get inspired!
Peggy

Punch Rack

I found this idea on the Internet, so time ago. The blog I found it on purchased their racks from Ikea . . . we don't have an Ikea around us, so I've been looking to these little kitchen towel racks since! The other night, prior to our snow storm, I went to Nuts & Bolts (a local Ace hardware store) and found 'em . . . I was SO excited, that I purchased two . . . good thing too! I didn't really realize how many punches I had! These were ~ $4/ea . . . but I didn't have to pay for shipping. Ikea does have accessories for their racks, that are on my "wish list" . . . wouldn't the baskets be great for storage for the little corner punches, etc?! I just LOVE my new little organized punch corner!

Yesterday, during our 4" snow storm . . . I drifted off to Jeri's downline meeting. There were four of us that ventured out into the snow . . . Jeri is having a repeating meeting on Monday night, for those who weren't as brave. I only live about 4 blocks away from Jeri . . . so it wasn't bad for me at all. At the meeting, Jeri demonstrated how we could look at advertisements in a different way . . . you can get color and layout ideas from them (see other "Inspiration" post).

I had some thank you notes to do . . . so I worked on these yesterday. I hadn't used the Watercolor Vine wheel yet, so I wanted to try it out. I temporarily adhered what I wrote, on the inside, so they could use it, if they'd like.

Okay . . . going to start going through my magazines for inspirations! Thanks for stopping by the craft room!
Peggy

Dad Update +

Sorry that it's been awhile . . . Dad was back into the hospital!

The ding-dong (I had another name for him, but I'm staying politically correct) thought he could lift a 60 pound bag of sand, all by himself?! He started feeling a discomfort in his chest area and started to sweat . . . so LaDonna drove him to the ER . . . his heart was into Atrial Flutter this time! The "Electrician" Cardiologist did what is called an Cardiac Ablation yesterday and now he's good as new! He went home today! Hopefully he now realizes that he can ask for help AND doesn't have to do everything in 15 minutes?! Hell, they're retired . . . what's the rush?! :o)

Wanted to welcome Janice to my Stampin' Up! downline. She signed up to be a demonstrator today! Hopefully she'll have just as much fun as I have, or more?! (I don't know if that's possible . . .) Oh what fun we're going to have. Janice is the one sitting in the chair (left/front). This picture was taken last September, when I hosted a crop @ my house. Our little crop group, since this picture, sure has grown! We sure do have alot of fun though, when us gals get together!

This Saturday my upline, Jeri, is having her Downline meeting. We've been asked to do a card swap too . . . oh what fun! Here's the card that I've made for the swap. I just love this 'lil chick, from A Good Egg stamp set, can you tell?! The sentiment, on the card, is "you crack me up" . . . so it can be used for something other than just Easter! A multi-functional stamp set! :o) I might try and glitter the chicks too . . . everyone loves bling!!!

I hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by the craft room!
Peggy

p.s. Welcome Steff, as the newest blog follower! Oh the pressure is on now . . . another blog follower + one week until the Blog Candy drawing!? She hasn't left any comments yet . . . so not too much competition yet girls! :o)

Busy day yesterday!

Hey there ladies!

Well, the workshop went well . . . all the projects turned out really cute. Someone left their blue basket though . . . I'm sending out an APB on a missing basket. Can you believe this?! I forget to take a picture . . . I had the camera down there and all too! :o( The girls didn't remind me either?! hmmmm, wonder why?!

Theresa, Cara, Tammy, and Steff stayed after the workshop was over (it was an early night, they left at midnight)! :o) Theresa and Cara made 'lil bunny chocolate bar wrappers, which all turned out really cute! Tammy worked on some birthday and sympathy cards. Steff worked on her wedding invitations; she's getting married in October.

I was a busy girl yesterday too! I took the boys to Sheer Madness, to get their haircuts. This is the neatest place for kids to get their haircuts! Instead of barber chairs, they have cars AND the kids get to watch their choice of movies, while getting their hair cut! The boys really enjoy going there and sitting in the Tony Stewart NASCAR car. TOO COOL!

I had a couple chick cards left (and cut a couple more), so I decided to get our Easter cards done at least (six of 'em). Kelly, one of the gals that came to the workshop, mentioned that she's trying to find a seed packet holder; for party favors at her daughter's wedding. I'd found this seed packet holder instructions on the Internet . . . so I decided to make it and see what it turned out like. I added the little cut out, once you open it, to make it easier to remove the seed packet. I think we're going to make this at the April workshop . . . I think this would be cute to give to our Moms, Grandmas, or Mother-in-Laws, don't you think?

I promised Terry that I would finish up all my tax paperwork today, so we can take it in tomorrow . . . so I'm going to go finish that up and then I'm going to Jeri's Make & Take today @ 2:00P. I can't wait to see everything we're going to make! Her blog showed a couple items, check 'em out . . . as she's so very talented! My card, that I took to regionals, ended up on her blog too! WAHOO!

Just a little over a week, until the Blog Candy drawing . . . be sure to leave comments and follow the blog, to get entries! The drawing will be the evening of April 1st! There is also a drawing for the Heart To Heart punch, for anyone that places a $50 order, during the month of March.

Have a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by the craft room!
Peggy

Spring Workshop/Class

I just had to share with you what the gals are making tonight @ the Spring Workshop/Class!

• The flower card opens at the top, I seem to always forget that cards can open that way. The flower petals are punched out with the small and large oval punches.

• The little basket is made with the Sizzix Scallop Envelope (two pieces) and then a 1.75"x7.75" of designer paper (bottom) + 1"x12" of designer paper (for the handle).
• The "Thank You" card is made with the Sale-A-Bration paper and the Eight Occasions stamp set . . . it's a gift card holder (see below). I just thought the layout for this 'lil card was so cute!
• The chick is an Easter card, that is on a hinge (brad) and is on So Saffron and Kiwi Kiss paper. The Kiwi Kiss paper has the scalloped edge punch along the top.
  

We're going to have some new gals joining us tonight too! There are a few gals that are even going to stay, after class . . . no, they're not in trouble . . . they're staying to play!! :o)

You know the saying, "Do what you love and love what you do."? I can honestly say that this is what I enjoying doing . . . creating with family and friends. It's so enjoyable!

I love looking (peeking) at other gals craft rooms, so I thought I would share mine. My 'lil desk is the first table on the right side. I have a computer behind my table too, so if I need to access a website, etc. it's right there. With me bringing down another table, we're now using the kiddie table, for the White Russians/bar! :o) It works though, don't 'ya think!?

Just a few more hours, until the gals arrive . . . gotta go . . .

Thanks for stopping by the craft room!
Peggy