A Quiet Sunday Morning

Hi all. Just wanted to pop in and say "howdy" before starting my Sunday. Hope you've all had a great weekend. I'm beginning to come out of my flu slump (thank GAWD), and I actually feel somewhat human today (*knock on keyboard*). We had a family night together last night and it was so, so nice. We took Erin to see the adorable "Chicken Little" (in 3D!) and had dinner at Lonestar Steakhouse in Overland Park. During the day yesterday, I went to a holiday expo sponsored by my Longaberger consultant and a few of her friends who sell other in-home sales products (Discovery Toys, Home Interiors, Tastefully Simple, etc.). Was a fun time and I actually got a little holiday shopping done, which was nice. Today, I'm going up to our sorority house at Baker for the chapter's third annual "Alumnae Tea" and then try to felt a wool handbag I crocheted. We'll see how that works. Updates to follow.

I've been awful about not posting photos to my blog. I've had them scanned and sitting on my Flickr account, but just not posted here. So, here goes nothin'...enjoy! (And yes, I know I need to get my Vegas pics up from May! I know!)



"Come on Maaa-ggggy...let's do the twist!"



Because once is never enough!



Sorry for the crummy photo quality on this one. As you know, I spent almost all of October on the road. When I got home at month's end, a wonderful surprise was waiting for me. I'd ordered a special Bo Bice CD from Hue Bell at the New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church, only to find that the CD was accompanied by a special DVD as well. Thanks so much, Hue!

Back in August, I made a set of homemade cards as a gift for my Mom for her birthday. My thought was that she might enjoy giving away homemade cards to her friends versus buying them commercially. Here are shots of those cards:



Here's the cover of the first card. When I bought the "Farm Fresh" stamp set from Stampin' Up, I had no idea how much I'd like it. SU products used on this card include that stamp set, Creamy Caramel cardstock, black ink, the Versamark pad, Stampin' Dimensionals, and The Tearing Edge. The cream-colored cardstock and colored pencils aren't from SU.



And here's the inside of that card. I used the (now retired) Close to Cocoa ink and "Monkey Business" stamp set and also The Tearing Edge from SU. Again, the cream-colored cardstock isn't from SU.



Here's the second card. All products used are from SU - "Monkey Business" stamp set, cardstock in Mellow Moss, Barely Banana, and Creamy Caramel, ink in Close To Cocoa, Mellow Moss buttons, the Versamark pad, and The Tearing Edge.



And here's the inside of that card. Same SU products used on the inside that were used on the outside, minus the buttons and Mellow Moss cardstock and Versamark.



Here's card #3. Again, all products used are from SU. (Can't tell that I'm an SU addict, can you?) I used the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set, cardstock in Taken With Teal and Pretty In Pink, Pretty In Pink buttons, Stampin' Dimensionals (I love those things), and the 3/8" white organdy ribbon.



Here's the fourth card, again made entirely with SU products. I love this stamp set. It's called "Friend To Friend" and it's got beautiful sentiments. The cardstocks are Perfect Plum, Mellow Moss, and Barely Banana, and I also used the Eggplant Envy ink (now retired), the 3/8" white organdy ribbon, The Tearing Edge, and Stampin' Dimensionals. This card came out really pretty.



Here's the inside of that card. The curvy scissors I used aren't from SU, but everything else is. That "Happy Birthday" came from the "Friend To Friend" stamp set. The buttons are in Mellow Moss, the ink is Eggplant Envy, and the cardstocks are Perfect Plum and Barely Banana.



Here's card #5. All products used are from SU, and include the following: the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set, Barely Banana and Mellow Moss cardstock, Forest Foliage ink (now retired), Barely Banana eyelets (I really had a hard time with these), Stampin' Dimensionals, and the 3/8" white organdy ribbon. There HAS to be an easier way to set eyelets. If you've got tips that can help, please send them my way!



Here's the sixth (and my favorite) card of the set. It's almost made entirely in SU products, all except for the white cardstock (that came from Michael's as part of a cardstock pack). Su products used include the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set, ink and cardstock in Taken With Teal (I love that color!), the 3/8" white organdy ribbon, and Stampin' Dimensionals. Simple card, yet really pretty. I was proud of how this one came out.



Here are cards seven and eight. Both made entirely in SU products - the "Friend To Friend" and "Happy Hearts" stamp sets, Eggplant Envy ink (now retired), the Versamark pad, cardstock and eyelets in both Perfect Plum and Barely Banana, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

She said she really liked the cards, which made me feel good. I really didn't think I'd love making cards as much as I do. But wow, when that bug bit, it bit HARD!

Earlier this year, the woman who once was our office's secretary became a grandmother for the first time. Here's the card I made for our office (we all signed it):



I wasn't too thrilled with how this one turned out. Click on it to see a bigger version. Can you see the background detail? I used the (SU) "Fabulous Four" and "A New Little Someone" stamp sets, the Versamark pad, carstocks in Brilliant Blue, Taken With Teal, Bliss Blue, and Barely Banana, Night of Navy ink, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Quite some time ago, I discussed a request that someone had made for me to make two of my shawls as gifts. I intentionally kept the name of the requestor secret so that the recipients of the shawl, since they read this blog, wouldn't have the surprise blown for them. It came to pass that one of the shawls was no longer needed (long story), but the other was. It is finished and was given...as a gift from my mother to our wonderful and beloved family friend Linda. It appears below.



I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in Light Country Blue. This yarn is heavenly, but it splits too easily. Still, though, for the money, it's about the prettiest and softest yarn you're going to find. The pattern was on the back of the yarn label. If you'd like me to post it (or EMAIL it to you), please let me know.

Mom found two balls of Lion Brand Fun Fur yarn in Tropical at a local discount store, and I took them and made them in to a scarf for her:



I just free-formed it, using two strands at the same time and a K-hook. I crocheted until I ran out of yarn! It was VERY thick, which I didn't expect. Fun Fur is very pretty, but it's a pain to rip out if you make any mistakes!

OK, with that, I am off to make some blueberry muffins for my family and do some laundry. Have a great day, folks!