Happy New Year!!

Well it seems that everyone has figured out and has made their NY's resolutions... Well true to form I am still working on mine. I guess if I could get them all figured out by today I am not late yet. I am going to be working up a list for myself today (I think I will go out to a nice coffee shop somewhere and pull out my pretty new blank journal and start there.

Isn't this journal pretty? You cannot see the back but it has the same image as the front only it looks just like it was dry embossed into the black leather it's not color on the back just the outline of the same image. I used to be a stained glass artist for 10 years so I guess that is what drew me to it when I was at borders the other day) ....which is an improvement for me because most generally I DON'T BOTHER MAKING THEM. Something has been different with me of late of which I can't explain other than it feels like the cloud has lifted (I could give tons of boring history on said "cloud" but I prefer to provide the short version of the story for now, wink wink). Suffice it to say that I feel God's grace and presence all around me. As my mother says...I'll take it whatever it is... so for the short story long version... after all of this blather.... alls I am trying to say is OMG I actually FEEL like making a list now THAT IS AN IMPROVEMENT. So stay tuned and maybe I can even boor you with the details of said list. and even maybe post something creative to boot because I am onto valentines day?

Out with the Old~~

I think it's appropriate since we're closing out a year and going into a new one.... to clean out my closets. I always get in the mood to clean this time of year? I read on another blog recently, can't remember which one, she was saying that she spring cleans this time of yr more so than in the spring. I have always been this way too. This yr is certainly no different I have already purged magazines, things in the cabinets in the kitchen, old coats from the front hall closet and all the mess in the garage. EDITED TO ADD: I even had my hair cut short by my daughter, she calls it the disconnect?!? I call it the "too much patron (platinum tequila) gap". I also found myself scrounging around my closet and the first thing I knew it was going into a major overhaul. I've been meaning to do this for sometime (and my family has been asking me to also, why?? it's none of their business, right?) anyway, so maybe it's just because I have some time off right now or whatever but I just feel like it. Wanna see my mess?

This is all going to goodwill. You can't tell by this pic but this pile is at least 4 feet higher than the laundry basket it sits in and spilling out, as you can see, onto the floor. It is clothes that don't fit, shoes, old purses...sometimes I don't even know why I hang onto this stuff for soooooo long. I decided, as I was purging all of this junk, that if it doesn't make me feel fabulous when I put it on, IT'S GOING IN THE PILE... I also figured that if I haven't worn in in at least a year...it's going out. Well, that could probably be my entire wardrobe because I hardly own anything that makes me feel fabulous. This is going to change THIS YEAR and it's going to the top of my New Year's Resolution list. If something I wear doesn't make me feel fabulous I AIN'T WEARIN' it. Ok so I admit I am a bit of a fashion emergency (well maybe more than a bit) so this might be a tall order. But I will TRY anyway ALLISON A. can you help me and be my fashion stylist? My friend Allison at work knows how to put herself together on a dime. Every time I see her I ask her to go shopping with me because she knows how to pull an outfit together at any size. Ok now that I think about it, my resolution might be too tall an order because I am miserable at this. Oh well I can always make and break them that's what we do. hehe. I am going to make a complete resolution list... I just wanted to share some of my New Year activities that I have started to do. I swear getting new shelves has been a pandora's box of sorts because it started a series of other space clearing activity. I guess that is a good thing. I still have to take the tree down and I am already into cleaning. I'm a bit of adadadadhd if I do say so myself. =D

Nice Blogger of the Day Award!

Up close and personal and the kindness of strangers....Ok... as we all know... pretty much everybody in this crazy creative community of ours is GREAT! It's so weird (in a good way) how close you can feel to complete and total strangers through the internet and this blogoland that we live in. It's so virtual but real at the same time. You feel like you know people and in way we do. We know a lot about each other via the blogs. By this time I think EVERYONE "knows" Kurtis over at "Stampin Kub's" blog. Well I love his blog, style and so of course, he is in my reader. I always get updates right when they become available. I don't want to miss anything don't ya' know. I especially love his male perspective on creativity and his clean simple universal style. His designs can work for anyone. Well I had a simple request today about his blog and I emailed him. I asked him if he could fix his images so that when you click on them they can popup and magnify. I have a hard time seeing stuff at normal size because I wear glasses and I'm farsighted. So even with my glasses on I have a hard time seeing close up stuff (the strength has increased annually as a tech writer and with all the time I am on these computers yadayadya) Anyway, he got right on it and he emailed me back that he was able to figure it out and has now installed the plug in to make it work. I just wanted to thank him for taking the time out of his day to help me out. Now I can see his nice things up close. Thanks Kurtis and I hope you don't mind I used your photo from your blog to showcase you today. Go on over and check it out. Click on the pictures on his blog because they magnify now. ;D

~now go be a great day
missprissme

Guess What This is Going to be?

Stay tuned... This is a picture of the same futon we will be using but is not my exact one.

Martha?

I don't know why I read things that depress me and Martha surely doesn't NEED any press but did you know freakin Martha has a blog NOW?? Maybe I am in the dark ages and everyone already knew this and it's no news flash to anyone but me (ok she is now in my reader I'm a glutton for punishment). But check out her HOLIDAY PARTY. OMG. Martha and I have always had a love hate relationship.... I love her but hate her all at the same time. My favorite picture is below... where her guests are in her library...oh heck...that's probably just a hallway...I am sure her REAL library is bigger than congress. If you click on the pic it will take you to the post on Martha's blog. Don't they all look so happy? Clones.

I just assembled my own library wall so I was kinda of impressed with myself. It doesn't of course measure up to MARTHA but hey kindredspiritish for sure. A picture of my "library" (ok IKEA, secrets out..I'm sure Martha's onsite carpenter MADE hers from trees felled on her property) coughcough follows... my DH got for my Christmas present and had it all assembled and stocked by Christmas Eve day. I love it and was soooo happy... I've been wanting libraryesc shelves like forever. It's really beautiful and fit all of my things perfectly. I actually wouldn't mind have one more unit to add to it. SIDENOTE: My DH is also building me a new stamp shelf. I can't wait until it's finished I will post it as soon as it is all done. He is re-purposing a wood futon frame for a mini stamp shelf. I think it will be quite ingenious and can't wait to show it. Back to the shelves. The pic doesn't show it but these are actually 4 wide you can only see three of them. It's 2 double-wide units to total a look of 4. I would have linked to it at IKEA but it is a new item at the store and it wasn't on the web yet. Be it ever so humble....

A Timely Reminder~

This just came to my attention and was such a beautifully written and heartfelt piece I wanted to share it. It also has such a nice lesson for this time of year. ~Enjoy

The Wooden Bowl

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl
tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and
four-year-old grandson.
The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table, but the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult.
Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.
When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.
"We must do something about father," said the son.
"I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.
Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.
He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded,
"Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up."
The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless.
Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.
Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.
For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason,
neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens,
how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents,
you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life.."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.
You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you
But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others,
your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

~blessings, missprissme

December 25th

I just love our little wooden folk advent calendar. I've had this for years. It's hand made and I picked it up at a fair in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, I don't have any identifying marks of the artist that made it. Each ornament is wood and hand carved individually. I decided to post a picture of it. The angel always goes on the last day the 25th of December and she tops the tree. I've gained a few miniature ornaments over the years so there are a few left under the tree. Technically all of the ornaments should be used up but we added a few (EDITED TO ADD: do you spy crabby maxine to the far right side of the tree, she's my favorite, her tote says I don't do jolly haha cracks me up). My daughters and I still practice this tradition every year even though they are all grown now 27 and 25.

The Advent Calendar has been around for more than 150 years and becomes more popular every year.

The origin of the calendar, like so many of our Christmas traditions, started in Germany back in the 19th century. Different methods of counting down the days to the celebration of Christmas were used.

Drawing a chalk line to mark off the days, later lighting a candle every night or putting up small religious pictures marked each day until Christmas. The first printed calendar was produced by Gerhard Lang in Germany. When he was a child, his mother attached little candies to a piece of cardboard and each day Gerhard would take one off. His first (printed) calendar consisted of miniature colored pictures that would be attached to a piece of cardboard each day in December. Later Advent calendars were made with little doors to open on each day.

The child might find a small piece of candy, a Christmas picture, a religious picture or a bible verse.

The German calendars were sold until World War II, at which time production was stopped due to the war shortages. After the war, the production of calendars resumed in 1946 by Richard Selmer. Selmer credits President Eisenhower with helping the tradition grow in the United States during his term of office. A newspaper article at the time showed the Eisenhower grandchildren with The Little Town Advent calendar. His company still produces calendars today and can be ordered online. Check out the online museum to see some of their early designs.

The first Advent calendars were based on 24 days with Christmas Eve as the last night to either put up a picture or take a candy. Today, the traditional German calendars still show 24 days, but in the United States, it's not uncommon to also find ones with 25 days -- the last opening to occur on Christmas Day.

It's not to late to start a tradition like this for your family, one that will become a real treasure in the years to come.

Cards Cards Cards

I've decided to post a collage (click on the collage image to zoom in) of all of the cards I've sent out this year. There are just too many to post individually. But first a thought... Ya know I've noticed as I am sure everyone else has too that cards appear to be a fading tradition. I normally send approximately 40 +- cards each holiday season. I even feel this is a low number as I've known people that send out a hundred plus. But anyway for me that seems to be my rolodex. The past couple of years I have received approx. 12 cards give or take a few. It's not that I am "hinting" for more cards and I certainly don't give cards just to receive more cards back. I enjoy sending cards, ok I love sending cards out. I was just thinking how I send out cards faithfully every year even to those who don't return the cheer. Not only do I send them I MAKE them all individually by hand. A lot of thought goes into my cards obviously. So I guess it just hurts me a bit when I run to the mailbox during the holidays and there is a market mailer but no cards. I might as well have a lump of coal in there. Well you all know I like to whine so I guess I couldn't get through the holidays without at least one little bitty whine. OMG I just noticed it's 2 a.m. I got lost in my art studio once again!!! Yes, I was finishing up a few late cards (ok better late than NEVER). Believe it or not it IS still the holiday season and doesn't end until January 6th (Three kings day and also the 12th day of Christmas) So technically I am not late. Anyway, what's up with the fading tradition of exchanging cards? I know email and the internet has something to do with it but I think we should revolt.

All images Stampin Up!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

It's Christmas Eve and I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday. I hope your holiday has been a blessed one...

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
be born in us today.

o little town of bethlehem - phillips brooks - 1867

The Stash!

Yes I say the STASH.... I've broke into my stash. I only have 21 of the 40 some odd cards I was going to send out finished so BLASPHEME.... I actually broke into my cards of Christmas past and am going to send those out. Whenever I have gone to card club or made cards I always save one card from the batch for my card sample files. A sort of card catalog if you will. Well there is not one last Christmas card in my sample catalog I had to break into it and use them IRL. No fear though because I took pictures and lucky blogoland will get to see them in upcoming posts. Plus I figure if I ever want to recreate it I can use my blog for a virtual card catalog. YAY. So for now here's one of them. I have approx. 20 more. hehe. They are all very simple cards.

Pssst... enabler ALERT!

I know I know we're supposed to be getting presents for OTHERS. But just in case you wanted Santa to bring you a little sumpin sumpin and you don't have the sew mini yet I just got the lates email newsletter from Hancock Fabrics and the sew mini is on sale for $39.99. EDITED TO ADD: FYI, I JUST CHECKED MY OWN LINK TO HF AND IT STILL SAYS $49.99 ON THE WEB BUT THE EMAIL ALERT SAYS JUST REDUCED $39.99 SO THE EMAIL IS NEW INFO APPARENTLY. I AM SURE IF YOU INQUIRE YOU WILL GET THE "JUST REDUCED " RATE. THEY DID NOT MENTION A SECRET CODE OR ANYTHING. See here's the email:

1 Ideas from Hancock Fabrics

My Alerts

Janome "Sew Mini" Sewing Machine Price: $49.99 $39.99

They are normally $59.99. So this is the lowest I've seen it. I got mine for $49.99 with free shipping so this is a pretty good deal. Happy shopping. He's makin' a list and checkin' it twice. ~wink~ Oh and stay tuned cause I have a bunch I want to post but time's a wasting as it is. Now off to the stores. I haven't even started with my gift shopping yet. YIKES. I think I will push my holidays back a week if that's ok with everyone else.

Season of Love

Since this is a season of love I thought I would share this super cute video that was floating around blogoland today with my blog readers. Enjoy, ~missprissme

Quickie Ornaments

I thought I'd like these more...They aren't blurry IRL. The photographs surprise again are so blurry. These were simple and somewhat quick but they are too plain IMHO. I thought I would post them anyway to see what Michelle thought. Seems how I only have one visitor EVER which is my friend Michelle. Michelle and I joke all the time only one person reads our blogs each other....we each only have one visitor a day. ROFL EDITED TO ADD: I mean I really do have a lame blog. So I am not hurt or in shock that I don't REALLY have all that many virtual PRISSY PALS. I'm really not. I don't do anything except post my cards. It's not like I provide a service, or do tutorials or sell stuff on sale or even come up with an original thought. Guess how many design teams I'm on? Yep you guessed that right....ZERO. I mean I practically CASE everything I do. I'm a complete and total amateur and I'm alright with that. It is just one boring yadayadaya post after another. I mean who cares? I just had to add that... I like talking to myself apparently. I mean I leave the longest voicemails. Ya know I like talking to air TOO apparently. hahahhahahahaha. Hi Michelle. hehe. I mean take my challenge for example that I posted earlier this month. The challenge was to use the colors and sketch in that post and then backlink. Well there were 2 backlinks of a participant. Guess who? Michelle...she played twice.... GOSH if it weren't for Michelle I'd have NO friends at all. Did you know that Michelle's favorite color is purple? Yep random fact I know...but it is...

Ok I'm gonna go eat worms. ciao.

Merry Kissmas

Just a quick post with a quick card. I wanted to show the pic windows and the closed/opened view so you can see the composition.... gtg. Everything is A Muse except the blue cs and the mistletoe stamp. The mistletoe is the tip of the holly/cranberry? branch in the SU peaceful wishes set. The ribbon and snowflake are from Michaels.

~enjoy y'all~ kisskiss

Open view. The smudge above the heads is the paper not an ink smudge.

Christmas Cardinal Love

I had quite a nice intro post but just deleted it when pasteing a smiley. I need some zzzzz's outta here. Basically just said some more cardinal love for ya'. 30 down 10 togo (Christmas cards overall)

Pretty...

lame closeup...maybe there's an digital SLR with flash and zoom in my future? Santa?

And a not so happy footnote: Hoping the hubby makes it through the night without throwing a stone. Sorry to combine such diabolically opposite topics in one post. ;(... after the ER this afternoon it appears he is passing 4 stones in the right kidney and 1 in the left. Holy shit I am going to start naming 'em...they say it's as close to childbirth as a man can get....so if that is the case I guess you could say he's gonna have quints. Now to come up with five names.... anyone? hehe

Post It's a Post YAY

Well my Prissy Pals will be proud of me I finished a card. Yes... as in uno... one... You really must click on the image to enlarge to get the full glitter effect. I embossed it with black and I used glitter pens and diamond dust to make it look like the snow was falling. Ok I was quite the dodobird last night at open crop night at my house. I couldn't stay focused for the life of me but I kept my Prissy Pals entertained at least. FINALLY I have a card. This card will go to my bil and sil in St. Louis. I lived near St. Louis for 10 years. My children grew up there and spent their grade school days in a little town call Edwardsville, Ill. It is on the IL side of the Mississippi river across from St. Louis so I guess you could say I left my heart in St. Louey a bit. hehe, I couldn't help myself. I loved it there but alas we were transferred with our work so we moved. I would probably still live there today if I could have. When I saw the Christmas Cardinal set from SU it had my name written all over it. Did I buy it when it was current? Of course not. I ended up getting it off of SCS B/S/T or ISO forums. Now if you've lived under a rock you probably don't know about SCS but it is a great community for the stamper and scrapper in you... so go check it out if you haven't already. I participated in Anna's sketch challenge and thank you Anna so much for helping me get some mojo back. This sketch is such a pretty one. All supplies are SU except where noted. The pattern cs is Basic Grey Figgy 6x6 paper pack(really love need more, when I saw that holly berry pattern I new it had to go with Christmas Cardinal sooooo perfect). I used my nestabilities to cut and emboss the small mattes, SU corner punch for the black photo corner look. I like how Anna uses a lot of black cs for her mattes and wanted to get that look. The black corners helped me pull the black cs into my design. Holly ivy embellishments and ribbon from Michaels and the creative candy is A Muse. I don't have to tell you how much I love this card. It is my newest favorite. Oh I almost forgot I used my Copic markers to color the image as well as the Spica glitter pens OMG new favorite tool? C1 cool grey and R59 CARDINAL to die for. I was looking for the perfect red to color in the cardinal and imagine my joy when I noticed my Copic set of markers had one named CARDINAL. And yes it was perfect. The cardinal has a lot more shading IRL it doesn't look this solid as in the photo. Love this set... stay tuned I have some others up my sleeve using this sketch. Now go stamp...

Tis the season!

Isn't it crazy busy this time of year and I haven't even gotten anything done really!! I am going to have something to post soon. We had open scrap night at my house last night and the prissy pals stopped over. All 2 of them. hehe. Allison doesn't have a blog so I linked to the Elf post if you want to see her again. Fun was had by all and we pulled a really late night. The pals got a lot of stuff accomplished. Me... not so much... I talked more than I stamped. But it was just fun to have everyone over. I had a blast I hope they did. I think a couple of us were just toast from the week. I, for one, felt a bit addle brained. Geesh the spirit is soooooooo willing but the flesh is weak at times and more than not anymore. Anyway, I am wrapping up the one card I started last night for a today post. oooohhh it is using the sketch challenge that Anna suggested a couple of days ago, it's been a fun one to copy and share with everyone (CASE). I've copied it now... I just have to get it shared. I will also have a few pics of the open scrap night to share (not many but just enough to show everyone). SIDE NOTE: It might be the impromptu trip to the ER that threw a wrench in completing my projects today, YA THINK? The hubby is resting comfortably over at the ER so that put a crimp in the days crafting plans. He decided to manufacture yet another kidney stone, poor baby. I am just waiting for the call to either bring him a clean set of clothes or to pick him up. They were doing a CAT scan when I left and he was napping. We live 5 mins from the hospital so I decided to wait here instead of there (hospitals are so stinky and germy ya know). At any rate I am on call. Plus I needed to emboss some more images to bring with me for my bedside vigil. I colored all of the ones I had brought the first time. That's so fun to past the time with images and a handful of markers. Now if I could just figure out how to bring glitter along and some glue. Although I have to say I failed glitter 101 last night. Um come to think of it I failed embossing 101 last night tooooo. I was worthless. But I did make up for it today so stay tuned for the final project it's so pretty. Two hints figgy and cardinal.... now wakeup...zzzzzzz.....I know you're sleeping what with just my jibberjabber and not graphics or pics or anything....zzzzzzz.....zzzzzz

Messing with my blog

EDITED TO ADD: I'M LOVIN' MY NEW LOOK, IT'S VERY VINTAGE'Y AND THE STRETCH LAYOUT IS JUST WHAT I WAS LOOKIN' FOR. I MIGHT MOVE TO TYPEPAD AT SOME POINT THOUGH... IT SEEMS THAT BLOGGER IS LIMITED AS TO CHOICES FOR CUSTOMIZING. UNLESS OF COURSE I'M MISSING SOMETHING? WHICH I PROBABLY AM.

By the way I am testing out some different looks for my blog. I am not quite sure how to customize my blog so it is all trial and error. I did however figure out which template I needed to use to have it stretch across the page. I wanted to add a blog banner but didn't fit right so I removed it a million times. Since I couldn't figure out the banner I decided to at least use Christmas colors (well somewhat). Stay tuned....

Snowman

Well I finally finished a card on Sat. (but of course the camera battery wasn't ready) so I couldn't post until now. This is NO stamping card... gasp. I used the cuttlebug winter wonderland embossing folder. I've been wanting to use this for so long. Once I got started I thought it was great stand-alone. I cut out the snowman and he is raised up on pop-dots but you can't tell by the picture. The little fleece corners are from American Crafts Newhouse Fleece Baby Cream. I seriously need another tub of those. The pink paper is Crafty Secrets. The ribbon is brown gingham but looks black in the picture. I really like the color scheme but I think it's imbalanced and needs blue at the top somewhere too. I colored him in with markers and of course I used glitter all over. Sketches aren't that easy for me. I should start doing some of the sketch challenges until I get used to this. I made this one up but not sure if it works for me.

Oh Tannenbaum....

Click on the picture and it gives you a better idea of what the tree really looks like. I was so excited about getting my tree up I decided to take a picture and share it right away. It's not even 100% trimmed yet but this is how far I got it so far. My dd wanted silver and blue this year so I obliged. Now mind you I have never veered from my usual traditional eclectic tree which is basically the green and red mix of anything goes. This year I actually attempted a theme ie blue/silver. I don't have all of the ornaments on it yet but you get the gist. I have a mix of blue and white lights and the white ones twinkle. None of us like twinkling lights but it was an accident and I don't know how to make them stop so I guess we will adapt. . I also still need to add tinsel.

This next image is a closeup of one of the ornaments and snowflakes. Which in a random fashion this picture actually turned out. I might try and use it for a blog banner. Now that would be new.

Wishing You a Magical Season!

EDITED TO ADD 2: BUMPING THIS UP FOR A REPOST. THESE DESERVE ANOTHER LOOK SEE. I LOVE THEM.

EDITED TO ADD: FOR ALL OF THESE CARDS I'VE BEEN USING AN IRIDESCENT 12X12 PAPER I PURCHASED AT MY LSS. IT ADDS EVEN MORE SPARKLE TO THE ENTIRE CARD. I USED SOLID COLORS SILVER AND WHITE. SO PRETTY. I WISH I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED MORE I ONLY BOUGHT A COUPLE OF SHEETS. ITS WAY SPARKLIER IRL.

Here's another one using this sketch and color combo I love lately. This time I used A Muse stamp images for the tree, sentiment and the snow angel. I knew the minute I saw this snow angel stamp it was one of those I had to have. I think this sentiment goes perfectly with it. For those of us that grew up around snow...don't ya remember those winter days when you were a kid, a fresh coat of snow had just fallen, running out to make snow angels before the snow was touch by any living thing? One of those magical memories of childhood for sure. The snow had to be the fluffy kind and deep enough to make the snow angels in. This card took me way longer than it needed to I even had an opportunity for embellishment can you guess where? Still no ribbon. Would love to work a ribbon in somewhere but so far none. ~enjoy... off to make some more. I used that liquid applique again on the tree branches and the hat

Another one and an Owlie update! and a COLOR CHALLENGE!

BUMP


Woohoo I'm on a roll....being that I have this week off, I actually have some cards to post. Whoa. I finally got the sentiment stamped onto the Owlie card I did earlier to show you and I did another card with this color palette.

I have a whole set of designs in my brain using this sketch and color combo...so I will probably have more of these. I really like it. With that said I'd love to throw down a color challenge for my PRISSY PALS today. Anyone interested in a fun challenge?? Just make a card using the silver card base, snowflakes for background and the torn paper snow hills. That's the only requirements. Use any stamp set, ribbon and sentiments you like. I just think this is such a pretty color combo I'd love to see what others can do with it. Also, link back to my blog to let me know you participated so I can go look at your schtuff. Here's my latest:

I love the new liquid applique schtuff (thanks for the info Julie), it's my new favorite supply. I used a combination of stamps sets to complete this card. I used SU Happy Winter (tree), Merry & Bright (snowflake background-love) and It's Snow Time (cardinal). The Elzybella sentiment. SU dazzling diamonds, A Muse creative candy for the tree star - love need more of. I think this card is a little bottom heavy and I still haven't figured out how to use a ribbon on this sketch but these are evolving as I make them. A happy accident that happened with both these cards.... Design tip: I was adding glitter to the hills and in the process the snowflakes picked up the glitter too because the white craft ink I used was still wet. IRL these cards are both more SPARKLY. If you click on any image it will pop up and you can see fine details better. My hubby's stealing the camera today so I can't upload anything new until this evening. Enjoy~ Can't wait to see the challenge submissions.

SIDE NOTE: Stamping Top 50

I'm dropping in standings? I was stamping top 367 now it's 370??????? Instead of getting more popular I am get less popular? geesh. I didn't think that could be possible? Whatever that counter is probably ran by little evil dolls whose heads spin.

Your stomach shouldn't be a waste basket

I think it is so funny that today's quote is Your Stomach Shouldn't be a Waste Basket after I just got over the stomach virus. See it's stalking me... Maybe it links up through keywords because it's too ironic that it keeps cycling topics that are 100% related to my recent posts? It's scary how much a computer "acts" like it's a real living breathing entity. I swear there really are aliens. Freaky. NEWay it appears from the evidence that it wasn't food poisoning although it acted like food poisoning because there were others at work that had the exact same thing I had and even did end up at urgent care. I tell ya it was that nasty. I thought for sure I would die. It lasts about 4 days. The doctor's said this was the stomach virus going around. I went back to work 1 day too early too because I was sure salty that first day back. I snapped at the first half dozen or so persons that even dared show their face in my pod that morning. It wadn't purty. The first guy that came in says sarcastically to me, "good morning sunshine" I leered back at him and said GET OUT just GET OUT OF MY POD. In my best linda blair voice ever? Then the next person asked me for help and when I tried to help this person she went into a weird female-ish insecure reaction and clammed up and didn't want my help but continued to try and waste my time so I cut the tutorial short and said in a VERY curt tone... you know where I sit, if you still want my help, come and get me...then I turned heal and walked out all while signing the peace out sign with my fingers (yes it really was peace out and not a bird symbol). OMG it didn't level out until 1ish in the afternoon. I should have just stayed home. But today I was 100% I cannot tell you how good that felt. I woke up this a.m. and it literally was night and day. So I spent the better part of today apologizing for my bad self yesterday. Even though I really had fun with it because I actually enjoy being a @#^$% now. I just do. I think it's a finely honed art form and acquired taste and skill and everybody loves it soooo much. It goes right along with my joy of whining. hehe ;D HEY it's my right as a woman of substance and I own it. The whole point to my post? I picked up a new tempurpedicish mattress pad (costco) and I can't wait to try it out. I wake up every morning just about in severe pain. I don't know what it is but it sure hurts a lot so I am going to give this a try and I am crossing my fingers I will get a good nights sleep tonight. I'll let you know. Maybe I should post something about winning the lottery? How's that for a key word. OH I might delete the post about evil doll because one of my prissy pals had a nightmare after reading my blog and she hates evil doll. I had to laugh. It sure has been a unfortunate week. Maybe she has a point. I'm deleting it now. doodoodoodoododoo insert twilight zone music here.

Other updates...

As long as I am at it. I am sure everyone is quite asleep right now and unsubscribing as we speak but I finally got my final mammogram report back from the clinic. I got a letter in the mail and it said that they would like to recheck in six months just to verify stability. I'm ok with that because that means that everything it ok right now and not to worry. I don't mind the follow-up because breast cancer is 100% curable if caught early. I like those odds and intend on assisting with keeping those on my side. So I will schedule another one dutifully in six months YAYAYAYAYAY. I am sooooo happy I heard good news.

~missprissme - now go on out there girls and get yours done if you haven't already done so - it's not scary at all and it doesn't hurt. Just go out in the garage, place breast on concrete and practice with the garage door (using the garage door opener). You'll be just fine. ROFL

I'm a Rock Star?

EDITED TO ADD: I ONLY HAVE 220 BLOG POSTS TO READ...YOU GALS ARE BUSY

Woohoo I'm back up. I only had cross words with one tech support guy. Why is it they want to charge you a contract fee for every minor question asked? OMG people get your heads out of your arses and THINK. That's all I want. Is that asking too much? Seriously. One simple little word THINK. Ok.... I'm over it with a Capitol "O". I could go on and on but I won't. I just wanted to update blogoland and let y'all in on the good news bad news. Good news I am up and running smoother than ever, bad news I am sure I lost something in translation. Oh well oopsie. I had backed up everything last month when my computer first started running slow and I knew something was up??? GUESS WHAT can't find the picture back up CDs. I threw them somewhere in haste and in the ditch and dash of the fires, cleaning out the garage and office, seasonal change out YEPPER they are missing. OMG I hope they weren't thrown out in a stack of papers or some such. I went through every last CD in this house and I can't find them. That was another chore and a half. Sometimes I think my life is in a perpetual state of MESS. I'm really really weally a very organized person but if you looked at my house you would say errrr NOT. It is so maddening to say the least but sometimes I feel like I am shoveling snow and it's still snowing in my mess. The problem is I've downsized and although the residence was a bit of a downsize the contents weren't. I thought I did but I guess not. I do digress. The whole point to this post was to get back on track. I completely wiped out my hard drive and did a fresh reinstall of everything. OF course it takes days. All the drivers weren't recognized and of course one of those was the network driver. Which meant no internet, which meant no downloads to correct said problem. I also had no video or audio drivers? What's up with that I had all of my original CDs? ack it's maddening. Love em hate em type of thing with these wonders (computers). Some things I forgot to backup? My Outlook .pst folder NICE, a few key folders on my desktop HELLO ALL OF MY BLOGGING STAMPING STUFF. Ya know what... maybe I need a fresh start. I don't have 1000 emails in my inbox I need to sort through. I had a lot of emails with pertinent logon/passwords saved in folders. Oh well again. It will take some more tweaking to set all of the configs again and download all of the most current updates to my programs. But yay I've got the bulk of it done. Now back to work tomorrow. I took today off as an addtional day of recoup. I was still a bit weak with the "greens". I told you I like to whine. See?

~missprissme

DREADED BLUE SCREEN

Ok so what's next from my black and blue foot, green face and NOW BLUE SCREEN. I don't know what is going on but some bad mojo or sumpin'? I finally had to do it.,.. I completely blanked out my hard drive and reinstalled everything from scratch. My computer has been acting up for some time now and thankfully I backup last month or so but now I lost modem drivers so no internet. I need to get a modem driver cd from the store and they do not open until tomorrow. I am using my daughters computer in the other room until then. wa wa wa. Not much else very cheerful to post. bleh.

Firemen Paramedics in the house!!!

Ok so call me a baby but I didn't feel very well since yesterday. I am not taking illness too well these days. I came down with one of the worst case of food poisoning? or flu? ever.

It hit me so suddenly too. Anyway, by last night, a call to "911" was in order. I thought I should go to the hospital but I couldn't move myself because I was soooo weak.

At any rate it was a false alarm because once they got there and checked me out they recommend I stay put.... as they said, everyone will have diarrhea and vomiting one time in their life or another. I think they basically were calling me a drama queen.

It was a sight to behold. I had 5 a my favorite men in uniform in my room. Picture me in my pj's tears streaming down my face (I looked like hell too) all the sudden I perk up and sit up and I say, "OMG I just realized I have 5 a my favorite men in uniform in my room, I must have died and gone to heaven" Picture 5 burly firemen with hats clench at waist, heads down, kicking there feet back and forth, with that "aw shucks maam" look on there face. My daughter is like MOTHER how embarrasing. Then she must be what menopause does to you! I did feel better after seeing them. It was so worth the false alarm. I might call them again tonight just so I can have them over. hehe. Anyway, I think I have turned the corner as far as how bad I feel. Just some leftover chills, fever and headache, everything else seems to have subsided.

I hope to be back stamping soon. I can't believe my whole weekend has been a waste on this. I guess it's just natures way of telling me I need some rest... I sure did get some.