You expect me to put my clothes in there????

Generally, I think that cruise ships are BRILLIANT in taking a space/corner/nook and creating a storage place. You may see a shelf with a large angle on it but it will be perfect to hold your snorkeling gear.  You may find a drawer in a place you never thought could hold anything, but it ends up being the exact fit for your makeup bag.  As with any hotel, you will have a  closet and maybe 2 if you are lucky.  We generally end up with 2 (YAY!!!).  This last cruise on board the Carnival Dream was no exception, but I did have a HUGE problem with one of them.


A closet has a bar that goes from left to right and you use this bar to hold your hangers, correct?  I have seen many closets in my life and only ONCE did I see one that did NOT fit this description.

Here is a photo of a typical cruise ship cabin closet.....you will notice it is exactly like your home closet only smaller.  











Now for the closet, I mentioned.  This closet features a "stacked" design.  This design yields a frustrated woman because you cannot access your clothing in the manner you are used to.  Hence the woman, "gifting" this funky closet to the menfolk in her life. Hey, she that unpacks the clothes gets to choose where the clothes go.  That is the law!.

I imagine this closet would not have been such a bother to me had it been wider and not contained the life vests.  I did manage to shove the life vests on the shelf, but then we lost that space for shoe storage. 

Carnival Dream

The long and short of it:

The bad:
1.  Long hair on the balcony
2.  No lunch until 12pm (I think it should start at 11am)
3.  No cheesecake on the dinner menu
4.  Occasional sewer smell (but I have experienced this on EVERY boat I have been on)
5.  Loud Sheryl Crow concert on the big screen at the pool
6. Missing the salad course at dinner


The good:
1.  Comedy shows
2. Trivia EVERY DAY!
3.  Loud Pink Floyd concert on the big screen
4.  Excellent food
5.  Excellent service
6.  Ocean Plaza midship 5
7.  Cove balconies
8. 24-hour ice cream
9.  Cherry cokes
10.  Activities onboard
11.  Perfect Sailing!
12. Jeff the Fun Dude
13.  Kim Lemon

Day 1-

The day started with our shuttle service from the Country Inn and Suites to the pier.  Our driver was wonderful.  She was a skinny legged little southern gal…who liked to crack a couple of jokes.  She acted all excited as the ships came into view “oh there’s the Disney boat” she exclaimed.  Then she said “look at the Disney boat, there are painting…….oh it’s goofy” And really it is goofy hanging off the side of the ship.  How old is that ship? I have not cruised from Port Canaveral in 13 years and I think that was the year it came out because I remember it was new, followed our same path (Fantasy 1998) and seeing Goofy off the back end...still looks good if it is that old.

There was our ship MUCH bigger than the Magic.  She looks like a typical Carnival ship, wider, taller, but basically the same.  We enter the terminal and it is VERY smooth.  Port Canaveral has a reputation of being the fastest check-in and 13 years and many cruise terminals later, they still are the tops.  Very efficient, very fair, very fast.  We were on the ship about 20 minutes after we entered the terminal.  We were over 2 hours each, BOTH times in Seattle.  Mobile was about an hour and Miami/Ft Lauderdale seemed liked FOREVER!!! 

The embarkation photos are singles and not families and they are on a green screen…. I am anxious to see what these photos look like. I have not sailed with Carnival since 2009 and the changes are many…very many. (the green screen photos were of our head in an astronaut costume!)

Enter the atrium…..NICE…not glitzy like most Carnival ships.  A little classy but still has that “Carnival” vibe.  Very pretty….this atrium is very much similar to the Legend.  Taller and slender just like that one.  There are baubles everywhere.  I am not sure what Carnival calls them, but I call them fun.  They are on the floor, on the elevators, EVERYWHERE. 

I did not find much that I wanted for lunch.  I had a salad.  Trevor a burger, John a hot dog and Hannah had a grilled chicken breast.  I did not much enjoy lunch, but I really wanted to get into my room.  What I did was take pictures and make sure the kids were signed up for Camp Carnival.  Then we went to our muster stations.  Carnival has streamed lined this just like Princess has…NO LIFEVESTS!!!!  It took about 30 minutes and then we went back to our cabin for the sailing away.

OUR CABIN---It was long and skinny just like I expected.  A twin lower, a twin upper and a King sized bed.  TONS of storage space (these skips have done such a good job making this better---every inch is used).   And the large balcony.  I think it was larger than our last, wait I know it was.  This one is enclosed a bit and feels very private.  It is very close to the water line.  From our balcony, we were able to view manatees, turtles and loads of jellyfish.  Later in the evening, Trevor saw dolphins. 

The room is very clean, my only complaint was a VERY long the hair on the balcony that does NOT belong to me.

DINNER- We had dinner at 6 at table 235.  It was a table for 7 and that is scary because you never know if you like the people or not.  We sat down alone for a long time, and ordered our food and our table mates showed up….low and behold it was a group from home…James, Anita, and Nathan Smith.  Don’t know how we got together (Jamie did you ask for that?) but it was nice.  Trevor and Nathan are about the same age so I think those two will get along fine.  We had a good meal…my salad was WONDERFUL!  I did not like the tilapia, it was very fishy and I did not like the grill seasonings.  I did not find a dessert I wanted so I got a cappuccino.  John got a warming melting cake and crème’ Brule.   Hannah got lime sherbet and Trevor got nothing.  His pickiness really limited his dinner selection. 

After dinner- we went shopping for a bit. I found a GREAT Carnival lanyard that I will wear to work come Monday week.  Hannah found a $40 backpack that she wanted.  Trevor and Nathan went to mini golf together.  However, it was closed so Trevor came back to the room.  John hung out in the cabin and Hannah and I checked out the ship.  We had our photos made and checked out the teen scene that is until I got kicked out.  I came back to the room and got in my jammies and Hannah is still not home yet.  Guess she is having fun.  Trevor is playing football in the room, surprised???? Nope, not me. 

Day 2 at Sea-

 Our first day at sea was all about resting and playing TRIVIA! I won 2 competitions today, did some shopping, more shopping, saw a comedy show, ate some great food and had our first elegant night. 

Day 3- Cozumel

The objective was to get LOADS of vanilla and take pictures of the kids at Puerto Maya.  The environment had other plans as it was POURING!   I have never been to Cozumel and seen it rain like it did today.  Thank goodness mom packed ponchos and umbrellas.  We donned our raingear (except dad who decided to tough it out) and walked down that VERY long Cozumel pier.  I knew exactly where we needed to go: Los Cinco Soles!  We made our way as quickly as possible and got into the store.  I looked at the silver jewelry and picked up a ring for myself, then made my way to the other side of the store.  $93 later, I had many bottles of vanilla and a new ring!  We glanced around the rest of the pier where Trevor bought two wrestling masks and a shark necklace.  Then it was time to head back to the ship for lunch.  We sort of split up…Trevor went off with his friends and Hannah with hers and that left John and I time to head to Serenity.  Serenity is an adult’s only deck that happens to be very relaxing and CHILD FREE!!!  John went down the waterslides and I got some hot tub time….love me some hot tub.

FOOD---We decided to eat dinner on the lido deck which was a MISTAKE.  Carnival no longer serves the same food on lido that they do in the dining room.  Food choices are almost NIL.  I was not happy at all with the choices.   And if you want any dessert other than ice cream, forget it.  This is where I see a huge difference over the last 14 years.  The food is still yummy that is offered, just less of it, at shorter times.  While I am on the food, the sit-down dinner menus have also changed since my last sailing, last year.  No longer will you see an appetizer and then a salad.  The salads are currently listed with the starters and you choose one.  For those that don’t know about cruising, you can have 4 starters if you wish and I have (roast pumpkin soup).  You can also have two entrees ( and I have).  The entrée choices have not changed that much.  They still offer wonderful favorites and added some new ones too.  Still, have prime rib and filet mignon too.

This evening after dinner I won $58 (on $20 starting point) on the penny slots.  I have used approximately $14 of it.  I plan on playing again as it was very fun.  

Day 4 Belize City-

First of all, this is a tender port. I hate tender ports!!!!!  We were anchored about 4 miles off the coast of Belize.  We were not going to go, but this is the place for bags, so away we go.  In our first few minutes, I found many bags and scarves that I would love to own, but we pushed on to look for more.  After we made our purchases we headed back to the tender.  The tender ride was sort of fun, especially when we hit a wake from another boat J. 

Day 5 Isla of Roatan- Mahogany Bay

We got off the ship soon after we docked and headed to the beach.  It was $43 for a chair lift ride for the whole family.  I thought it was nice.  The lift carries you above the crowds and the landscape, over the ocean and down to the beach.  It took about 20 minutes (because of stops/starts), but it was a scenic trip.  The beach was fairly large.  Contained FREE beach chairs and had beachside waiters from Fat Tuesday.  The free chairs were nice and you could have sun or shade. I chose shade and read some Harry Potter while the gang swam.  I do not like to swim in the ocean.  1.  Whale poop.  2. Water makes the sand feel NASTY and I can’t stand that feeling on my toes or in my shoes.  3.  If you get wet that sand will get into everything.  I promise that. 

After we got back the kids and I ran to play trivia while daddy took a nap.  Trevor won a ship on a stick (with my help) and then we played cornhole.

Day 6 Costa Maya

We docked extremely early this morning.  I went out on the deck and read a few hundred pages of the Deathly Hallows while everyone slept.  I watched some gun toting guards and dogs board and exit our ship.  I heard looking for drugs.  Fun times huh?  Eventually John woke up and we got dressed and headed into town.  It was the longest pier that I have ever seen, but not horrible.  We went into most of the shops. I tried to buy a tiffany necklace but no one would wait on me.  Booooo.  I did buy a handpainted Beatles sign.  VERY very nice!  Then we headed back to the ship.  There was not much at this port, nothing but drunk people in the public pool and dolphins on the beach.  It was pretty, but you could tell that recently they had hurricane damage. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent playing trivia, lounging around, casino hopping, and SHOPPING!!!!  We did see two comedy shows.  I almost peed my pants from laughing so hard. 

Day 7 THE END!!!!

Here it is, the last day on the ship.  We get kicked off VERY early in the am.  TOO EARLY.  We will be moving through some tropical system today  and the weather is NOT good, but the seas are rough.  I love it when the last day at sea is rough. 

We put down some money on our next cruise.  No idea where yet, but when you are this close to platimum cruiser status, go for it!!!!!  See you next time!

Lauren's Christmas Gift Box

How do you usually express love? With a gift and what is a better way to give a gift than to give it in a gift box that you made yourself! I decided that it would be great if this gift box could go with the Mojo Monday theme this week (BTW, I really missed MOJO while you were on vacation).

The instructions for the box are SO simple to follow.  I found them on Splitcoasters (which happens to be a WONDERFUL site).  Here is the link to the website...  

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/2_5_7_10_box/   

You really need to peruse the site a bit and see all the fun things that you can learn to make. 

I used a 8.5x11 sheet of bazzil black card stock

Flourish stamp by Stampin UP! (Baroque Motifs)

Silver Embossing powder by Stampin UP!

All card stock on the front of the box  was from my scrapbin...

So was the ribbon 

Flowers are prima

This color theme goes with the CR84FN challenge.  I love the pink, black and gray combo so much I could not stand but to try and use it again.   LOVE LOVE the pink!!!  Thank you to both of you the challenge sites for tons of fun.  I love playing with you every week.  

Tickle me PINK!!!!

Pink is not one of my top 3 favorite colors, but it is exciting.  It can be pale and drab, or bold and fierceful.  It can be pastel and calming or scream at you "HEY NOTICE ME!"   Yes, there are many personas to the color pink. I actually think pink has tons of personalities, probably more than any other color because pink can be ANYTHING.  Add a little black for some classy, add some brown for some down at home, add some ornage for some sassy, add some blue for some relaxation.  Yes pink is the "IT" color. 

This week's color challenge was fun because I have actually been working on a pink and black card. 
This week's challenge made me finish it, but also because it was such a good color combo I added one more card and an album that I think turned out FABULOUS!!

It is again along the lines of THINK PINK from the movie "Funny Face" because I cannot get enough of that movie for one thing.  For two things I cannot stop singing the soundtrack in my head (or playing it in my car), and for three think it makes me happy. 

My pinwheel BE YOURSELF card

I am going to start with showing you  the card I was inspired to finish.   I made the first layer of this pinwheel in a class at CKC and made the second layer when I got home.  I stopped there.  When this challenge popped up I decided it was perfect...I just needed to do something with it.  Of course a card was the perfect choice....it's unique and people are unique so I made a self esteem card.
Going through my scrap bin I saw that I had this great peice of matboard in black.  I decided to make a THINK PINK album.  The cover features an "Audrey" like person with her balloons on the street of Paris.  Wearing pink everything including her hair.  Inside is a perfect place to document her (or your) travels to Paris or another fun destination (somthing PINK would be UBBER exciting).


Close up of my hand painted French lady



Album cover BEFORE

Finished Album cover



The bottom three photos are of a tiny little card that you could give to anyone you love.  I made a little cut out so I could put flowers all over the front and it would still close...also it left a flower on the inside of the card too. 





I love you card

I remember you

I was delivering breakfast to some toddlers in the 1-year-old room.  My cell phone rang. It was my husband. I said, "I only have a second, I have to feed these kids".  He said "something bad is happening. The World Trade Center was just bombed."  I got someone on the breakfast and ran to the tv.  No one really knew what was happening. We turned on the radio and still, no one was sure what was going on.

Feelings of what the heck is going on?  Feelings of "I can't believe this", and feelings of terror flowed through everyone. Then it happened....... we saw a PLANE fly into the second tower.  What in the world?  Is that really what happened?  Yes, it was.

Rumors began to fly, we were in the middle of an attack.  An attack on everything we knew.  I was 7 weeks pregnant and scared to death.  I grabbed my 4-year-old child from her classroom and kept her with me while I tried to help keep the children calm all the while feeling that life as I know it was ending.  Workers had to leave to get their own children, parents began flocking to be with their children.  There were tears, prayers...and then a third plane hit the Pentagon.  And a fourth crashes into a field.  A NIGHTMARE descended on our great nation! 

Panic began to take hold in Paducah, KY (not that it wasn't inside all the time), there were rumors they were coming for us (with all the uranium and TVA).  There were rumors about so many things.  Most of it fueled by our general terror and disbelief.

My how life can change in a span of 90 minutes.  NINETY MINUTES!  90 minutes that changed the life of every single American alive at that time, regardless of their age.  You may have known someone, you may have begun to look over your shoulder, you may have been scared to fly, you may have been scared of anything or anyone with different ideas than you...someway YOU were affected.

In the hours and subsequent days that followed we saw miracle upon miracle. Heroes were born over and over again. Our leaders stood together without party distinctions. We heard tales of survivors. We banded with our fellow citizens to assist those in need.  We gathered in churches and homes to pray for the lost, the survivors, the loss of life and prayed for America.  We all sported our RED, WHITE, and BLUE.  There were flags everywhere, praises of "God Bless America" graced our lips, and American united to rebuild our country.

It's so hard to comprehend that less than 20 people that morning changed ALL of our lives.  We all have our stories.  Some are stories that will send chills down your spine, some of us were there, some of us had relatives there.  Some of us lost loved ones.  Some of us had our lives destroyed by the events. The scenarios go on and on.

In the next few days, we will hear many of these stories.  Let us once again bond together for our citizens.

We are America!  We are strong!  We are powerful!  We are unbeatable!  We are the United States of America!!!!!!

God Bless the USA!!!!!

Rolodex

I am on a mission, I need some type of Rolodex....I am being overrun with post it notes.  Now, that would be fine, but space is limited.  When Michelle works, paper work EXPLODES everywhere.  Excuses, attendance, census, and most of all post it notes.  Post it notes contain numbers, tips, things I want to remember and maybe just a friendly one. 

Two days ago, I began a mission to find a "rolodex" to contain these little tiny pieces of paper. I am not buying something, if there's one thing I am its cheap (unless it concerns paper products and shoes).  It was a no brainer to make something, actually that is what I told Natalie Massa I was going to do.

TA...DA.....

Blue Moon

This week I am making cards for me to use next year that are a year on the life but more of a reflection on life and not typical events. I am using 3 events that everyone uses....Christmas, Father's Day and Mother's Day.  For Mother's Day, I really wanted to use this clip art that I found. 
I found this on a free site   http://www.freeretroclipart.com/, you can't use it for commercial use, but you can use it on your own.  You want to be careful with copyright, that is why usually I use my own drawings, but this one is too good to pass up.  There is also a blog on this site that is very worthy of your time.

http://americanwomendidntgetfat.blogspot.com/

Here is my creation:

To get the look:
You need lots of papers and junk in your craft bin. I had a ripped up doily, a page from an old Bible, a tag from my tagger that says "so easy to attach" an old Hugs label and a yucky old tag made new by Tim Holtz inks (spun sugar, broken china, old paper and walnut stain).  The Ali Edwards handwriting font on your computer and blue ribbon.  This was fun

Stacy Renee Isbell "Squirt" Robinson

Is a girl I have known since I was very very very young. Our parents introduced us to each other. She had hair that was so long, black and silky and I was jealous about that! She had a massive collection of teddy bears and a pool table (very fun) and my favorite part of her house was this little spiral staircase (I don't even remember if I even knew where it went---I never climbed it, but I did sit on it). She had some teen idol stuff in her room and a day bed in the corner.

Her mom was precious, but I really don't remember her dad too much (I think he was at work when I visited).

We rode the bus together for 8 years. We were friends but not close friends...then we went to high school. I think we might have ridden the bus together then, but I have blocked out all high school bus riding experiences! We did start hanging out more and more. When she got her license we began making a figure 8 around the little town of Mayfield. We would sing songs, chase boys, and continue making that circle. When I got my license we would take turns cruising in her very cool car (a red Barretta?) and my lovely long stylish wood-paneled station wagon (HEY). We were hip, young and cool. AND LOUD! Wait, maybe that was me!

She graduated from high school and went to Murray and left me. We both fell in love and married, she moved away, I moved away. Sad sad sad, but all these years later, we are still friends. I still think of her. Like today (August 27), the anniversary of her birth. Friend, may your day be full of happiness!

Happy 40th!!!!!!!

I can't fight this craving any longer

Let me tell you a story. A story of a lady that pulled into a McDonald's on Music Valley Drive in Nashville, TN on August 6, 2011.  She was starving to death and had just made some $$$$ working for a scrapbook vendor.  She ordered a double cheeseburger, fries, coke, and a ROLO McFlurry.  She had to devour the McFlurry quickly because she was driving and did not want to spill any on her lap.  It was YUMMY!!! So YUMMY she wished that she had ordered a large ROLO McFlurry.

She told her husband about the McFlurry and told him of her desire to have another one.  A week or so went by and she was still thinking of that McFlurry.  One day she was going to be driving by McDonald's during lunchtime.  She pulled into the drive through...ordered her #6 with a coke and a small ROLO McFlurry.  She was given a total and she pulled to the window.

Upon her arrival, the girl (with lovely nails) leaned out and said: "Honey, the ice cream machine is broken."  REALLY????   Feeling sad and extremely disappointed she ate her burger while longing for that ROLO McFlurry.

A week or so later her hubby went to McDonald's after football practice.  His mission to feed his son and bring the wifey a McFlurry.  He called a few minutes later, the line was out onto the street, there was NO way she was getting that ROLO on that night.

Days went by and the sweet husband decided to give it one more shot.  He pulled through the drive-through line, ordered and was told: "the credit card machine is broken."  He doesn't carry cash.  What is this a conspiracy?  Was the lovely lady ever going to have the ROLO McFlurry?  Would she be forever to just dream of the taste of the caramel and little chocolate candy pieces?  Would she forever be angry with the Lone Oak Road McDonald's for ruining her McFlurry experience?

No, that lovely little hubby would leave the McDonald's parking lot and go to the ATM, where he was reunited with greenbacks and the wife was very happy that the second ROLO McFlurry was just as good as the first one!

Thank you to McDonald's, John Champion and Abe Lincoln (ATM). 

Owl love lips

This weekend, I had a client that wanted a card featuring owls and lips.  I decided I would make a 3-D card to reflect the clients choices.  I wanted to be a little different but not too different.  I decided to make a shutter fold card, because they are unique (as the client is).  It is a very fun fold to make, if you never have made it you should definitely give it a whirl.  I got my instructions from spilitcoasters.  I searched for various card fold a while back and just saved them.  BAM!  A unique fold whenever you need it.  Here is the shutter card...http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/trishuttercard/

This card makes me happy. It is very distressed, very happy and perfect for a 21 year old girl.

To get the look:

Purple card stock---Hobby Lobby open stock
Owl stamps---Wise guys by Technique Tuesday
Letter stamps---Inkadinkadoo
Purple patterned paper, all papers for the owl---from my scrapbin
flowers---recollections
Inks--Tim Holtz distress inks (walnut stain, frayed burlap, spun sugar, tea dye, vintage photo)
Black---stazon

front of card closed



front of card opened

back of card open

Gingersnap Creations: GC 112

This challenge was fun for me because I love the look of steampunk.  Like an Abe Lincoln meets James Bond kind of look.  Like the old Wild Wild West show from the 70's (or was it 60's?).  I notice this look is everywhere in movies (Sherlock Homes and Cowboys and Aliens), on t shirts (very nice) and in the craft aisles. I admit I am one of the big buyer on those craft aisles.  I have quite a few steampunk stamps, rub ons, papers and cardstock.

Today I happened upon this challenge and had to take part.

To get my look:
Vintage Ladies stamps
Butterfly stamp by Hampton Art
Words paper (a scrap) by Prima
Flower paper by Graphic 45
Grunge board pieces by Tim Holtz
Peeled paint crackle paint by Tim Holtz
Inks--Distress Inks by Tim Holtz in Walnut stain, vintage photo, old paper, tea dye, frayed burlap
Achieve font is Bleeding Cowboy

http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/

Mojo Monday 204

This weeks sketch let me us some of the techniques that I have learned from my little scrapbook hero, Tim Holtz. I got to use some distressing with some of the inks and a resist technique with paint that I LOVE!!!  Also featured in one of my felt roses that I made.

Get my look:
Stamp by Hampton Art
Card stock came from my scrap bin
Distress Stickles vintage photo by Tim Holtz
Inks...all stress inks vintage photo, walnut stain, old paper, tea dye, fired brick and broken china
rose by me
paint by American vanilla white

Slow down, you're moving way to fast...

I remember as a child I would think things like "when I grow up" and "I am going to do ______ when I am grown". These are statements that ALL of us made as children.

It happened, we did grow up. Many of us now have children. Those precious little babies that screamed all night long with colic. Those little babies that used to think we rocked the world. Those little babies that would desire nothing but for us to feed, hold and love on them.

They too are growing up. They now sleep through the night (thank goodness) and sleep like rocks. As a matter of fact, they are old enough now to put themselves to bed!!! Those little babies have now seen some of the world and realize "yeah my parents aren't as cool as they used to be" or "my parents are stupid". And don't even think about hugging or kissing them where ANYONE might see them. That would be the worst thing you could do.

Time "fixes" everything. I look at my children and things they say are the SAME things that I said and I am certain that my parents probably said the same thing when they were young. My children are 14 and 9. Not too old no, but they are growing up so fast.

I was thinking the other day about our little two bedroom apartment with that long hallway in Little Rock, Arkansas. Hannah walked down that hallway as a very tiny child. She logged about one million jumps on the Johnny Jumper in that hallway. She would squeal with delight when I would say "tomorrow I am taking you to the library". That was almost 14 years ago.

With Trevor, I remember him being so sick as an infant. So sick we weren't sure he would ever come home. Then he did and he screamed all the time. All the time! Did I mention ALL THE TIME? One of his first words was "ball" and those massively long blonde curls that he had.

The sweet times are gone. Now, she is a teenager, who hates that I am even typing these words. He is a boy that can just go outside for ten minutes and come in smelling like he hasn't had a bath in two weeks.

They no longer need me to pick out their clothes, make all their meals, to entertain them. But kids, listen up. You are not done with me! Who do you want when your tooth hurts? When you are throwing up? When you want to play catch? When you need new pants, purses, shoes? When you need MONEY???? That's right your mom and dad.

It's a cycle that hasn't ended...parents have kids, kids grow up, kids become parents....round and round it goes.

CR84FN 36

This week's challenge was very hard for me...for starters I DO NOT like yellow.  So I have to learn to think out of my comfort zone, which honestly was the whole reason that I started doing CR84FN.

Here is my attempt to make my most hated color ExCiTiNG!

All the cards feature these products: 
I took 2 12x12 sheets of Wild Saffron paper (by K&Co)
one white cardstock
1 8 1/2 x 11 kraft card stock
and some scraps and came up with all of these projects
Black ink---stazon
brown ink---choc chip Stampin UP!
Distress inks---Tim Holtz (walnut stain, frayed burlap, tea dye, spun sugar, broken china, emboss, and old paper)

Wise owl....features Technique Tuesday tile, alcohol ink, stamps by TT and mustard yellow craft smart acrylic paint

Flower by Making Memories, Just for you stamp by Heidi Grace, all patterned paper by K&Co and pop dots by Zots

Lemonade....primary yellow by Americana acrylic paint, yellow embossing powder by Stampendous, large flourish stamp by Stampin UP! Baroque Motifs

Special you---thinking of you stamp by Heidi Grace, doily from a CKC kit and all threads from scrapbin

Superstar---superstar and star stamp by TT, heart stamp by inkakinkadoo, antique linen Distress crackle paint, primsa watercolor pencils and Caramel alcohol ink

I hope you enjoy! 

CKC in Nashville Tn

I have looked forward to going back to CKC since Sept 11, 2010.  It was canceled last year due to the flooding, but back this year better than ever.  I decided after last time that I wanted MORE classes.  This year, I took 9.  Well, I took 6 there and brought home the class kits for 3 more (I had arrived late due to work).  I would like to share some of the items that I have been working on.

These photos are from only 5 of the 9 class kits.  I am still working on the others.  You don't get to finish the projects in class (except the layout one).  There is a flip side, I can come home and add paint and TONS of ink, which is exactly what I did.

I did NONE of the design layouts for these.