Reason For Not Posting

Hey All!

Thought I would let you know why I have been so absent lately. First, my DH decided to build and install a beautiful closet organization system. He works 2 weeks and then gets 1 week off and makes the closet in his 'off' time. At first, he was at it whole hearted and the units were going great and getting stained. I sanded and applied polyurethane to it and it was looking fab! He went back to work for 2 then his off week we went to Vegas and he got back to it for a couple of days before going back to work. This happened the next week off also - except for the Vegas part. And the next week off. This last week off he decided he didn't even want to look at it as it became a bit too much for him to deal with after working so hard. I totally understand. The major downfall to this is that my house looks as if I should be nominated for the Hoarders show. My bedroom had clothes and all the other closet dwelling items piled high and deep and it drove me crazy to even go in there. AND it spilled over into my craft room. I had to remove my double stacked filing cabinet out of the craft closet so clothes could hang in there much to my chagrin and all my shoes (in boxes) are piled on the futon in there and the cabinet is in the way and I cannot create in such a hoarding atmosphere! I would take photos but I am not going there. I just want the closet finished and all the stuff back in it so I can get my play back on. I have moved the hanging clothes and 'some' of my shoes back in as I asked DH to PLEASE install hanging bars and he did. I expect to have the closet finished this next week off and I will be so much happier and more productive in the card area. I hope! =/ We have had other events happen that also prevents me from being creative but closet is the main one. I will show photos of the closet when (if) it is finished.

Thanks for your patience with me!

~Robin

Always be happy! =]

A Couple of Birthdays

Hello everyone. It has been a while since I posted. My life just decided to go in different directions there for a bit and finally I found my way back into the craft room. It is especially hard to get anything accomplished in there because my DH is remodeling the bedroom closet and ALL of our clothes and miscellaneous items are scattered about the house. We look like hoarders! lol. So these 2 cards are the latest of my creations. The bottom card is copied from my friend Pam at Sweet-Pea Bunny . I saw this on her blog and had to make it. Very pretty. Hope all is well with all of you!

Always be happy! =]

A Quilt for Mom

I keep seeing all these quilted cards and decided to give it try especially since my mom was a quilter until her health prevented her from continuing the craft. I think my card is very not up to the standards as the ones I have seen but I'm sending it anyway. LOL. She'll get the idea. Next time I will use darker colors as they seem to show better.

Always be happy! =]

Darling Blessings

So, here I go again with an old lay out of mine. I needed several birthday cards for several birthdays all on the same day and simplicity was a MUST. This lay out is no fail for me because I can use it for any occasion and I love that. Of course the colors had to be Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip! What other colors are more appropriate for girl birthdays? The sentiment is from God's Blessings and the the gifts and cupcakes are from the Darling Dots set. The ribbon is Pretty in Pink striped grosgrain, there's a red rhinestone sticky for the cherry (obligatory bling) and the squares are raised with dimensionals. I included these in a few USPS priority boxes which state if it fits it ships. lol. Silly postal service. I 'fit' quite a bit in my boxes and they have a noticeable bulge. Hey, it fit! I just hope it ships. =]

Always be happy! =]

Tag - I'm It!

Helen at Let's Create tagged me. Please go check out her beautiful creations!

4 shows I watch
Swamp People
Biggest Loser
Ghost Hunters
Dateline 48 Hours

4 Things I am passionate about
Card Making
Gardening
Fitness
Friends & Family

4 words/ phrases you use a lot
Holy Cats
Dude
Fabulous
Wow

4 things you have learned about the past

It is much better to tell the truth. Lies are hard to remember.
Life is as wonderful as I let it be.
Never plan to sleep in because something always happens so I can't.
Chocolate cures everything!!!

4 places you would like to go

Italy
Australia
Texas (home)
Machu Picchu

4 things you did yesterday
Laundry
Went to Costco - always an adventure
Took the truck in to get spray liner
Watched a beautiful morning form

4 things you are looking forward to
My custom closet
Class reunion
Summer fun
Visits from friends and family

4 things you love about Spring
The sound of the birds
Flowers
Fabulous weather
Being able to spend time outside

Tag 4 people to play along
Penny at penguinstamper
Pam at Sweet Pea - Bunny
Erika at TwinTrouble's Creations
Becky at Inking Idaho

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday! It's certainly wonderful here.

Always be happy! =]

Cuttlebug Sympathy

I needed a sympathy card for a lady at church whose dad passed away and of course, I went searching for ideas on quick and simple cards then found this card on SCS. I HAD to copy it. I love the simplicity of the pattern and it looks very classy to me. I used Very Vanilla and Certainly Celery card stock, Leafy Branch Cuttlebug EF, Close as a Memory stamp with Certainly Celery ink. The ribbon is the Certainly Celery poly twill from the ribbon bundle and the sentiment is raised with dimensionals.


Always be happy! =]

Weathered Birthday

This could actually be a Thanksgiving card now that I'm seeing it on my blog. It is very simple and quick to make. I used Whisper White card stock, Close to Cocoa and Creamy Caramel inks. The images are from Happy Everything, Great Friend and Weathered SU! stamp sets. The 'buttons' are five 1/2" Circle punch SNAILed together with the top layer having been run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder. Dimensionals raise the strip they are placed on.

Always be happy! =]

Thoughts and Brads

Sage Shadow, Basic Black and Kraft/Crumb Cake are the card stocks used here. The colors can be used for male or female cards and I am thinking about stamping the sentiment on the blank at the top. I like it but it looks like it may be lacking a little sumpin, sumpin. I may play with it a bit more and see if I come up with anything special for it. The Thoughts and Prayers is stamped with Versa Mark and then I used gold EP and Antique Brads.

Always be happy! =]

Upsy Modern

Sometimes when I go shopping online I see such nice patterns and color combos that I think would make great cards. Here's one I found using Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black, Kraft or Crumb Cake, and Whisper White. I will add a sentiment later to the bottom patterned area. Unusual combos make nice cards.

Always be happy! =]

Happy Birthday, Lily!

This is a simple little card for my soon to be 9 year old niece. She loves turquoise and I totally understand that. It's such a nice color. I stamped several flowers from the Season of Friendship stamp set and embossed it with the Petals-a-Plenty folder. The butterfly is from the Butterfly Prints set. Dots and sentiment from Garden Greetings. All SU! products. I need to learn to draw straight lines. =]

Always be happy! =]

Winey Birthday

My fellow wine sipper is having a birthday next week Yeah, Jane! I case-d this idea ( I know I said I was going to come up with my own stuff but some this are just so case-able!) from my friend Pam here . I thought it was such a cute card and I used round punches for the grapes and the Two Step Bird extra large punch for the grape vine and leaves, rolled it through with the Square Lattice embossing folder, stamped it with the Cheers to You set and gave it an Elegant Eggplant ribbon to finish it off. The Wine glasses are stamped on a little card that opens up to the sentiment! There are also 3 sticky stones above the wine glasses. It was fun to make too! I hope she likes it.

Always be happy! =]

Take Care

I have a Newfoundland friend that is a nurse and she broke her foot last year. Yesterday she kicked a gurney and broke her other foot. Grace is not her middle name. I wish I had a stamp with a foot cast but I do not so this one from House Mouse will do fine. I love the little mouse and rabbit in this stamp. So cute.


Always be happy! =]

Make it Monday

LOL. First off I wrote the title to this blog and when I looked at it the wording looked like this मके आईटी मोंडे। I wasn't sure what had happened but then I figured out the 3T button had been activated some how.

This card made it's official debut in October 2010 along with an anniversary card. I think it is very classy even if it was a snap to make! Thanks for stopping by to look!

Always be happy! =]

Monkey Paw Birthday

 Today is my beautiful husband's birthday. He likes things clean and simple so I am obliging him with this card. His favorite color is blue - so I used Old Olive. =]  I had a complete other card design in mind when I picked out the color but I really like the way this one finished. Very easy and quick! I stamped the fern in Certain Celery first then took the Old Olive Stampin' Write marker and 'thumped' it around on the fern to give it a little life.

Old Olive, Very Vanilla card stock. Old Olive, Basic Black, Certainly Celery inks. SU!  French Script and Sanded background stamps, PTI sentiment from Handwritten Notes, Rubber Stamped Monkey Paw Fern. Black brads and dimensionals finish it off.

Thank You, Again

 I had asked for help finding a certain stamp set and ended up having 3 marvelous ladies helping me. This is one of the cards I made to let them know how much I appreciate them and all they did. The card looks elegant enough to be used for a wedding or just a formal thank you. I am usually casual but every now and then I get a flash of class. =]
Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Vellum and Blush Blossom (retired) card stock , Elegant Lines Textured Impressions, Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon, black grosgrain ribbon, unknown stamp in Basic Black ink and blush sticky stones. The sentiment is raised with dimensionals.

Sincere Thanks

 I love these colors together. They look very inviting to me. A simple thank you card made from Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla card stock. Tempting Turquoise and Chocolate Chip inks were used along with a Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon. The sentiment is from Sincere Salutations and the sticky stones were a pain. I bought them in a wave of stones - a pattern of stones - yellow,green, turquoise - all stuck together for you in a, well, pattern. Of course I had to use the stones from this wave so I began cutting away and found out that I have very sharp scissors as one of the stones was cut in two. I put my glasses on after that and things got easier.

The Difference in Cats and Dogs

Milo

Neo

Milo and Neo napping in the craft room on the futon in a nice woobie.

Bailey

Bailey with a raw hide flip

It must be great to be able to get such enjoyment out of a piece of cowhide. Bailey enjoys his days OUTDOORS! Silly cats.

Spring is COMING!!!

This is my neighbors' apple tree in full bloom already! I still have oranges on my tree. I should hurry and pick them so it can re-bloom for fruit next winter.

When I bought these I thought I was getting Snap Dragons. Come to find out these are called Stock. They look antique-y to me and will soon be in my garden.

Who doesn't LOVE Hyacinths? I think they're gorgeous and their scent, while sometimes pungent, I find full of memories of my mom's and my grandmom's gardens. Ah, sentimental values. No charge!

This is a red Ranunculus. In the background is the Hyacinth and a bright yellow Gerber daisy. You can just get a glimpse of little Bailey behind the flowers. Come on, Spring! I am ready!!

Missin' My Mojo

 Really. I'm not sure why I can't seem to get into stamping lately. Is it Spring? My craft room is bright and airy and the pool is outside the window so the view is good. I have plenty of supplies. I am sad to say I just can't motivate myself to make cards. I have 4 birthdays next week and if I don't get my mojo soon I will have to *gasp* buy cards. Dun dun duuuun. This is my attempt to be creative today. I actually did 2 but you have to wait until tomorrow to see the other. Funny that I chose to make a couple of thank you cards instead of birthday. Alrighty, then. This card is done in Baja Breeze and Cherry Cobbler inks. Also Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla card stock. There is a Baja Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon and the sentiment from Whimsical Words is raised with Dimensionals. Rhinestone flower from Michaels. Do you like this card? I can take creative criticism, just be kind! =]

I Received a Blogger Award!

Michelle from Pink Paper Paradise gave me this award. She's just too good to me. Thank you very much Michelle!!!

As you can expect to receive this award you've got several rules and these are as follows:

Step 1 - Make a post linking back to the person who gave you the award!

Step 2 - Share 8 random things about yourself

Step 3 - I was supposed to pick 8 bloggers and link back to them to pass this award on but I couldn't settle on only 8. I think all of you do fabulous work and if you would like this award from me then take it! It's free! 


About me:

1. I am a fitness freak. You can't tell it by looking at me, but I am.

2. I am 5' 2" tall.

3. I am a very good cook and cook almost every meal. I take an occasional time out for a night out with DH.

4. I'm a picky eater.

5. I can't see further than 12" without my contacts and I can't see closer than 3 feet in front of my face with my contacts. lol

6. I married a man I went to high school with but we didn't date back then. We've been married almost 6 years.

7. I never had children.

8. The Mayan calendar indicates that the world will end on my 50th birthday: 12/21/12

Boho Birthday

I never know where I will be when inspiration hits. Yesterday I went to the optometrist and the young lady that took me to the exam room had on the cutest little black and white skirt topped with a soft blue cardi. It was so cute! Her name is Cynthia and I thank her very much for being my inspriration for this card. All it consists of is Soft Sky, Whisper White and Basic Black card stock, Basic Black and Versamark inks, Basic Black Embossing Powder, Soft Sky Stitched grosgrain ribbon, Boho Backgrounds and Sincere Salutations stamps!

Another New Addition

Ok, so here's what happened. When I adopted Milo from the rescue kitties I saw this gorgeous marbled gray tabby - Neo - and wanted to bring him home too but the lady talked me into just getting Milo for starters so I did. Well the week wore on and my mind kept going back to this little gray kitten. I HAD to go back and if he was still available then he was coming home to live with us. He was in his little cage (as were 5 other adoptees and I wish I could take them all!) so I adopted him. While I was filling out the paper work a lady came looking for a male kitten but Neo was the only male. I guess he was supposed to live with US! Anyway, he's a sweet addition and Milo loved him from the moment he was released from his carrier. Neo will get used to him. lol.

Things I Love

My chocolate card was inspired by this one from Penguinstamper. I love her mainly vanilla version but thought it was a little too fancy for the recipient of this one. I am all for same color - different layer cards because they do look so elegant. This one, I wanted to make her want to eat it so I went with the Chocolate Chip/Pretty in Pink combo. I think it is a very good combo because I am getting HUNGRY! =]

Valentine's Goodies

I have a couple of nieces back in Texas that I spoil with goodies for every holiday and occasion that rolls around. Valentines is a great occasion because it involves CHOCOLATE! Yes! Along with the Nugget Purses I am sending the Match Box die with 4 little wrapped nuggets inside. There are also SweetHearts in a package that allows you to pull the candy up with the ribbon. Pretty cool. I know Bermuda Bay isn't really a Valentine color but one niece is very into that hue at the moment so this year it is very Valentine-y. The cards are very CAS and can be whipped up in a jiffy. I LOVE quick and CAS!

M-I-L Birthday

I think I always make my mother-in-law a pink card so this year I asked my DH what his mother's favorite color is to which he answered, "Why would I know that?". I know my mom's fav color so I just assumed that everybody did. Anyway, I went with Bermuda Bay and I am 'happy' with the finished product. Hope she likes it!

New Addition

We have a new addition to our family. MILO!!! Several months after losing my sweet little Tazzie to whatever she had ( the docs never confirmed it but they thought some kind of urinary cancer) my heart called for a little kitty. This little dude is full of life and vinegar, er, vigor. We got him from a local pet store where a group of people named The Cat People set up every Saturday and try to adopt out their rescue kitties. This guy was so energetic and just so darn cute that I decided I would go to lunch and debate on whether to get him or another gray cutie or both. It was HARD! I brought him home and introduced him to 90 pounds of a wonderful and gentle Labrador, Bailey. He was scared to death of the big dog but relaxed enough to play with his tail. He forgets that they're friends and has to start over every day with dog fear. They haven't quite bonded but they will. Bailey really wants to be friends. Milo does too, he's just cautious. =]

Heart Box

Hi all! I know you have seen these on my blog before but I had to make a couple more and show them off! They can be a little tedious but they are so cute when they're finished. I made these for my hair dresser and her assistant and of course, they loved them. Instructions can be found here. Thanks for stopping by!

Nugget Purse

Since the very first time that I saw a nugget purse it was LUV! I cannot get enough of these little cuties! I am using retired DSP on these while I patiently (yeah, right!) wait for my new DSP to arrive. They are so cute and very easy. I could pop out quite a few of these in an hour. Instructions are below! =] Enjoy the little things in life - especially if they hold CHOCOLATE!!!

Cut a 1 ½” x 4 ½” piece of cardstock. Cut a coordinating 1 ¼” x 4 ½” piece of DSP, or use plain cardstock and run it through the Big Shot with an embossing folder.

Place Sticky Strip along the back of the DSP or embossed sheet, center and attach it to the 1 ¼” x 4 ½” piece of cardstock.

Take the assembled piece and place it on the paper cutter and score at 1 - 3/16”, 2 - 3/16”, 3 ½” and 3 ¾”. Fold the creases.

Take a 5” piece of coordinating ¼” grosgrain ribbon (or color your white ribbon with the Stampin’ Up! Write markers). Place a piece of sticky strip along the ¼” section on the inside of your purse, peel it then attach the ribbon to make the handle.

Using the Trio Flower Punch, punch out the flowers in a complimentary colored cardstock or DSP. Place flower on the mat pack, pierce a hole through the center, and stick a brad through it but don't open it just yet.

Close the flap on the purse and punch a hole through both layers of the purse with a paper piercer. Run the brad through the hole and secure it.

Take a 1” x 3” piece of coordinating DSP and adhere along the back then wrap it around each nugget.

EASY!!! And so stinking cute!

SincereThank You

Do love to trade stuff as much as I do? I think it is the best thing since rubber stamps! I mean you get new to you stuff and give new to them stuff that neither of you use to both that will get used! It's crazy green! I just made a fabulous trade and along with some extra goodies to my trader I made a thank you card to go along with it. Hope my trader is a happy trader. I know I am happy with my new to me goodies! =]

Cute Little Purse

I found this cute little purse instructional pdf and of course, I had to make one. I love little purses!

Every purse needs a billfold. This one holds a bill snugly.

No purse should ever be without chocolate!

Here it is opened and

here it is closed. I used tiny Velcro to keep it closed.
This is a fun little purse and pretty darn easy to make which makes it even funner!