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Homemade Creme Horns

2012-03-01T20:24:00.002-05:00

Growing up in the Ironton area, most folks were familiar with Tipton’s Bakery and Grocery Store. This was one of the best bakeries around. You could get many kinds of sweats, but I loved bon-bon cookies, and would love to have one today. Their chocolate eclairs were to die for. Oh, and the creme horns were so good.

A friend and I were talking about the creme horns the other day. My husband always loved Tipton’s creme horns, so I decided to try and make them. Here is a picture of one of the first six I made. Below is the recipe. Just write and ask if you need any help. It actually ended up being simple, and his words, “Sweetie, you hit the nail on the head!” Meaning they were good. Must have been, he ate a total of 12 out of the 24 I made.

Have a great day and Happy Baking or Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Homemade Creme Horns

You buy your pastry in the frozen section at Kroger or Walmart (preferably Kroger).

Grease each horn, dust work area with flour. Roll out pastry in a rectangular shape. Cut strips about 3/4-1 inch wide, about 14-16 inches in length. Brush the strip with ice cold water, and start wrapping pastry strip from the bottom of the horn up to the top, overlapping just slightly. Brush one side with ice cold water and dip in sugar. This will be the top. Lay it on the cookie sheet. Repeat until all horns are covered. Bake about 9 minutes in a 400 degree oven.

Make fluffy white filling:
1 cup of corn syrup
1/3 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of water

Boil this to 235 degrees. While cooking this beat two egg whites with 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar until stiff. After the mixture has reached 235 degrees, slowly add it to the egg whites and slowly beat it until all is mixed together. I beat it on high then, and you will see a glossy film-like texture to the fluffy stuff. It is ready to place in a pastry bag.

Once you take the horns out of the oven, remove them immediately from the cookie tray, and place them on a cool plate and let them cool. Remove the horns. Using your pastry bag, fill each creme horn with the fluffy stuff filling, and you are finished. YUM!

I love Whipper Snapper Stamps

2012-02-09T13:48:00.001-05:00

Thought I would post today. Would like to post everyday, but I have the worse time making myself stay up with my blog. Help me! Does anyone else have this issue. I really want to do it, tell myself to get to the computer and do it, and then get off in the house doing something else and totally forget that I was going to do this.

Well, today I’m posting a little card I made for a swap. It is a cute kitty, a Whipper Snapper, design stamp, and it was so fun to color. I loved the colors for the card, and I actually got the colors and lay-out from an email I received from another persons blog. Loved that lay-out. I have another Whipper Snapper card to post, which I believe I will post in the next few days.

Hope you enjoy your day! I’m back to the craft room for some fun! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Recipe for Pecan Tarts Page and Interesting Story of a Stolen Hearse

2011-09-27T16:21:00.002-04:00

Hi All!

Well, I can’t help but say this again . . . It is another beautiful day here in Southern Ohio. We have had some rain, but there seems to be a little bit of sunshine in every day for a few days now. The sky is so blue with those big fluffy clouds.

Today, I’m posting another picture from the recipe book I’m putting together for my daughter. This is for pecan tarts. Sounds wonderful! The imagine is a download but for the life of me I cannot remember where it is from. I’m terrible about forgetting things. The paper is definitely Stampin’ Up. Even the big orange flower is cut outs from SU that I have had for quite sometime.

I can’t help but think of something that happened in our Tri-State area recently. It is not really funny, but then I am flabbergasted to the fact that someone can do this kind of thing. Here is the news article from the WSAZ TV news site:

BECKLEY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- One of the most bizarre crimes they've ever seen -- that's how police describe the case of a woman who drove off in a hearse with a body inside. "I am very sorry to everybody involved," suspect Angela Dehart said Wednesday morning on her way to jail. Beckley Police Capt. Jeff Shumate said, "It's very bizarre. I've been a policeman 22 years, and I have never seen anything like this." Shumate said the incident started early Tuesday morning at Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor .Police say Dehart was walking home when she saw a hearse -- engine running and ready to go -- and decided to take a drive. "We found the employee had left the car running while unlocking the funeral home when someone walking by had jumped in the car and left the area," Shumate said. Stealing the hearse was bad enough, but police say inside that hearse was a body just delivered to the funeral home. "The concern was, if we were not able to recover the vehicle in a timely manner, was the emotional stress it would been put on loved ones and family if the corpse could not have been located," Shumate said. But just hours later, police tracked down the hearse but say the body inside was damaged from a wild ride. "The corpse did receive some injuries, and it appears to be from the body being thrown from the gurney from reckless driving by the suspect," Shumate said. Dehart said she didn't know there was a body inside the hearse, but police say she should have known there was a chance. "She would have had to suspect there was a possibility of a corpse being in it due to it being a hearse, but I do not think the corpse being in the vehicle had any bearing on whether she stole the vehicle or anything," Shumate said. Shumate said Dehart was not on drugs -- at least not that he was aware. He also said she does not have a criminal history. Police spoke with the family of the deceased. They say they're pretty upset about the situation. Surprisingly, though, they've also been understanding. Dehart was taken to the Southern Regional Jail.

Hope you didn’t mind the story. Just something I really cannot shake. Perhaps my heart goes out to the family of the deceased, since we recently lost my father-in-law, and I think of how it would feel to us to have this sort of thing happen.

Well, I will go for now. Hope everyone has a wonderful evening. Come back again and often.

Karen

Perfect Mashed Potatoes and A Beautiful Sunday

2011-09-25T20:33:00.001-04:00

Hi All!

Okay, so this is another beautiful day in Southern Ohio. Fall in Ohio, is beautiful. Nothing else can be said about it. But, this day was absolutely great. I didn’t do much outside, but I enjoyed the view from my family room, which has 15 long windows. I watched movies all day, because it was a free preview weekend for Max and HBO on DirecTv. Didn’t really feel like doing much more. My husband is on midnight turn, so when he got up from sleeping he sat down in the chair and watched movies with me. We watched Couples Retreat and Knight and Day. Both were great for a boring but wonderful Sunday afternoon. Now, he is watching a football game. I can do without that.

Now, I’ve fixed dinner and gotten it out of the way, and getting ready to mosey down to the craft room. I want to post a new page for you. This is another page to the cookbook I’m making for my daughter. Today’s page is just pretty with the colors I chose when making it. I don’t know, however, if it is all that pretty, but I do love the colors. Hope you like it, too.

Thanks for stopping by. Come by again and often. Have a nice Sunday evening!

Karen

Pecan Pie Recipe Page and a Beautiful Saturday

2011-09-24T14:41:00.003-04:00

Hi All!

Another beautiful day in Southern Ohio. The weather is just so nice, and it isn’t raining yet today, which is a plus. My daughter just left. She came by for a visit and to wash a few things. She is slowly getting her personal belonging moved into her own house.

We are suppose to go to a car show this evening at Wheelersburg McDonald’s. I love going to car shows just to see if we win anything. The last three shows we have won something, and I love that, even though there are some odd items.

Today, I’m posting another page for the cookbook I’m making my daughter. This is a Tilda image. Not sure of the designer paper, but I used a chipboard flower and one of my recipes.

Thanks for stopping by. Come back again and often. Hope your Saturday is as beautiful as mine!

Karen

Beer Wieners Recipe Page

2011-09-22T20:08:00.002-04:00

Hi All!

Happy Thursday out there in blog world! It has been a beautiful day here in Southern Ohio. This morning I cleaned out my flower bed and cleaned around outside. This afternoon I messed in the kitchen, and in just a bit I’m going to mosey to the craft room. Oh, and I got in my work-out on the elliptical. That was probably the hardest part of my day! Whew!

I’m posting a page from a recipe book I’m making for my daughter. Today’s page is a recipe for beer wieners. I liked the little sheep I used to put on this page. Of course, you can see that the flowers are a punch. I used little gems to put on the center of the flowers. The images are from a site that gives free images. I cannot remember the site. Sorry ‘bout that!

Hope you like my page. Have a great evening! Come back around and visit. Thanks!

Happy stamping,
Karen

1972 Mach I Mustang - Apple of My Husband's Eye

2011-09-19T22:51:00.005-04:00

Hi All!

Haven’t been on my blog for a long time, but thinking of getting to it again. I mean to get to it and never do. I took pictures of a scrappin’ cookbook I have made for my daughter, Victoria, who got married July 30, 2011. I haven’t finished yet, but plan to start posting each page and then when I have all of them finished giving it to her. She has already started calling me asking for recipes over the phone. I would have never thought I had recipes that she would actually want. But, of course, I have recipes that are my Mother’s, so why wouldn’t Victoria want mine?

As for today, I’m posting a picture of my husband’s 1972 Mach I Mustang, that he totally restored all by himself. He downplays it, but Saturday, August 17th, 2011, he won a first place plaque for custom street rod, at Poage Landing Days, in Ashland, Kentucky. I was so excited for him. He worked so hard on his car, and loves it so much. It is nice to know that when a slew of judges with their little mirrors and clip boards walked around looking at cars, judging all that was there, that they actually saw all his work and let it be known that it is something he should be proud of. Of course, we have tons of pictures of his car, but I have one here for you to take a look at her. She is a beaut!

Thanks for stopping by. Come back by when I start posting my scrap pages. Have a great day!

Karen

It Truly is a Monday - Valentine's Day, Too!

2011-02-14T21:28:00.002-05:00

Today, is a Monday, though it feels like a Tuesday. I’m not sure why I’m so confused. It is probably something to do with the fact that I don’t go anywhere most of the time. Oh, Happy Valentine’s Day, too. That is today as well! Didn’t do anything for that. My husband ask if I got him a card or anything. I told him I got him the same thing he got me! Nothing! I just know I’m going to win the “Wife of the Year Award!” Valentine’s Day is just a Hallmark/Wal-Mart/FTD Holiday anyway. He better love me all year long, and not just one day a year.

Been doing Swaps on SCS. I’m loving it. I get so excited about making the cards, but then worry if they are good enough. I got some pretty ones back, as well as some nice recipe cards with some recipes I can’t wait to try. I’m going to post a card that I made for a swap. Hope it inspires someone. Actually, the shape inspired me. Decided to try it, and glad I did. I think it turned out pretty, and I loved the Hanglar-Stanglar girl. Just love those little characters. Wish we could buy those stamps in the USA. Maybe someday.

Okay, about 2-1/2 hours left of Valentine’s Day. Enjoy it. It is a Monday, remember. I’m back to the craft room for some coloring and laying out a card. Have a good one!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Doin' It For The Dips Sunday!

2011-01-30T12:01:00.004-05:00

Good day to all! The sun is shining here in the area of the most southern point of Ohio. The temperature has gone up to a whopping 44 degrees on my patio. The snow is almost gone except for places that don’t see any sunlight. Of course, they are saying another rain/ice/snow mixture will hit us again this week. It is becoming a weekly thing. I sure am happy that my son is home schooled. I would hate to have to make up all these days in public school. They will probably be making up snow days the whole month of June, if it keeps snowing. I’m sure they will start using everything they can to prevent going longer in the year. I just hope so, for my niece’s sake, as well as other kids.

Today, I’m positing a picture of a 6 x 6 recipe card that I did with a swap on SCS. I used a Hanglar-Stanglar little boy chef to post atop the recipe, that he is giving a good stirring, too. I used SU paper as well as some other paper from a scrapbook pad that I received as a gift. The yellow and blue goes great together, or at least I believe it does. These were mailed in about 1-1/2 weeks ago, and should go out for the mail this week. I am excited to see what I get back in return. This swap was called, “Doin’ it for the Dips.” This is one of my favorite dips. I hope whoever receives the recipe tries it and likes it, but also likes the cards as well.

Okay, I’m off! I have a technique class I’m attending today at 4:00 p.m. I’m always excited to learn new techniques. Hope everyone has a pleasant Sunday!

Toota-loo,
Karen

A Nice, Quiet Saturday Afternoon

2011-01-22T14:39:00.003-05:00

Today, I’m showing pictures of my pretty little girls on Christmas Eve, while we unwrapped gifts. They loved all the boxes and papers lying around. You will see from the pictures that they are enjoying themselves.

Last evening I went to Texas Roadhouse with three of my close friends, Tessie, Barb and Vickie. We had a really good time. We always have a really good time when you put the four of us together. Most of the time it is total chaos. After eating, we headed to the movies to watch The Dilemma. It is a good movie, and it makes you think about the dilemma Vince Vaughn’s character had. Been there, done that, and it didn’t turn out good. It is really hard to know even what I would do the next time. I do know that either choice is not going to be easy. You have to see the movie.

I’m off to work on a swap. Really getting into the recipe swaps. They are so much fun. Also, I’m making an extra of each recipe for my daughter, who is getting married in July. This way she has some of her Mommy’s recipes for her new life as an ole married woman. Hope everyone has a great day! Happy stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Back to the Play Ground!

2011-01-17T21:48:00.003-05:00

Just thought I would start playing with paper again. It feels so good to do it, too. It isn’t like I got out of the mood, just couldn’t get in the swing. Lots of things get in the way of fun, and I guess I became overwhelmed. Back to playing in the craft room, and doing swaps on SCS, and loving everything I’m doing.

I made candy bar holders for Christmas. Just a couple of them. I’m thinking my little snowman came from Whipper Snapper. I could be wrong, but I believe that is it. It is all SU paper. The pink holder was for a friend, and the Barney purple one for one of my sisters. I taped gift cards to the candy bars. When they pulled on the string to bring up the candy bar, they also saw the gift card. The snowmen are colored with watercolor pencils, and I used Gamsol to blend, as well as embossed them over with clear embossing powder. I made another one of these for my DH’s aunt, but it said Happy New Year! The candy bar is large. It is the 4.4 oz Hershey’s.

Well, I’m off to play in the craft room. Working on a recipe swap on SCS for one dish meals. I’ll post it in a few days. I have a dip recipe card that I will be posting tomorrow or Wednesday. Enjoy your evening, and Happy Scraping!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

CPS Challenge June 13, 2009

2009-06-13T19:44:00.001-04:00

Today’s card is for the CPS Challenge. It is over at 8:00 so here is to procrastination! My details are below regarding the card.

I hope you are enjoying this weekend. This morning it was terribly overcast in our area, but the sun starting peeping from behind the clouds until it was a mostly sunny day. So nice to finally see the sun. It has been raining for days. I hope to get in some sun bathing tomorrow.

Thank you for stopping by, and do so often. Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Stamps: Stamping Bella & Celebrate from Archiver’s Snag’em
Paper: A shiny type paper from a kit given to me from a friend
Embellishments: Flowers from Darice Sticky Puffs; Metal Stickers Nailheads; Ribbon, Think Spring, Walmart. Bella colored with watercolor pencils.

CPS Challenge - Angel Anya

2009-06-05T19:22:00.003-04:00

Every week I take a little time and blog hop, print off challenges I want to take part in, and don’t get the chance. This week, however, I have completed two challenges. I am posting one for the Card Positioning System challenge this post. The other was yesterdays, I (heart) 2 Stamp - Sketch For You To Try.

I stated last time I posted that I need birthday cards for the summer months. Lots of birthdays in my family, and for friends, in the warm months of the year. So, the card I have made for the challenge on CPS is another birthday card. I used Angel Anya, stamps from The Greeting Farm, along with sentiments from a clear Inkadinkado Brenda Walton set of Chelsea Sentiments. Anya is colored using prismacolor watercolor pencils and I have popped her wings & hair bow. The cardstock used for the actual folded card is Raspberry Bazzill. The pale teal is from DCWV, The Glitter Sweet Prints. On the inside of the card, I used just another piece of DCWV paper from The Sweet Prints, and cut around the design on the paper. The circle on the front of the card, behind Anya, is from Lasting Impressions. Fun sketch!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you come back often. Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

I (Heart) 2 Stamp Challenge - Sketch For You to Try

2009-06-05T18:12:00.003-04:00

Haven’t posted for a while. May & June seem so busy. I have loved the pretty weather. I’m a summer lover; live for this time of year. Got my garden out - twice. That is a long story. Weather related. Got the pool ready to go - Waiting on warmer water. Flowers planted - Need mulch. I just feel like everything is working out. Keeping busy, which is good for me.

I made this card for the challenge on Jen del Muro’s blog - Sketch For You to Try posted last Saturday, May 30th. This sketch has been fun. I liked the lay out and it was a good sketch for me to get back into cardmaking again with. I have missed crafting, but just had so much to do.
The main image is from Whipper Snapper Designs, Shelly Comisky, Sugar n Spice. Love the characters. The images are so fun to color. This is colored using watercolor pencils. White folded card is Papertrey Ink white cardstock, gray paper from a pack I don’t know the name of, and I used Bazzill purple bling behind the image. The sentiment is from Inkadinkado Brenda Walton set of Chelsea Sentiments. I used little gems or blings on the right lower hand corner and on the white strip of paper on the front of the card. The inside is decorated with a piece of Bazzill cardstock and scrap purple Gingham.

Thank you so much for "hopping" by, and come back often. I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Happy Birthday

2009-04-22T19:33:00.003-04:00

Hi All:

I made another birthday card. This one is a cutesy. I loved the little animal stamps when I saw them. I cannot remember where I bought them, but I was shopping in Columbus, Ohio, with a few of my friends when I did. Also, this card ended up blue, too. The last couple of cards I have used blue on. I usually use pink. Blue is a change.

This was a pretty good day for me. My son, Mitch, and me attend Community Bible Study, in Ashland, KY, on Wednesday mornings. He is 15, and home-schooled. This program actually caters to home-schoolers, which is so great. There are quite a few kids that attend, for a 10:00 to 12:00 service every week. We are almost finished with the book of Genesis. Actually, next Wednesday will be our last lesson. In the fall, when the studies start, it is always exciting to get in and get started, but when the weather starts getting warmer, and everything is starting to bloom, I’m ready to be out of the classroom setting. There is a break from May to September.

Well, thank you for stopping by my blog, and viewing my cards. Stop back by often. I hope you have a wonderful day! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Just Magnolia Week #1 Sketch Challenge

2009-04-21T00:04:00.004-04:00

On a search, after shopping for Magnolias, I came across the Just Magnolia blog. Do you know how lucky I felt when I found the launch of a first time sketch challenge? Special! So, I printed out the sketch and tried my hand at it.

On a recent shopping adventure I bought some of the K&Co, Amy Lotus Tea Box Butterflies Die Cut Paper. I have used two on the corner of this card, as you can see. I placed one flat on the scalloped circle, and then pop dotted one on top of the other. I used a pin and placed the tiny beads over it, bending the end and glueing it to the top of the butterfly die cut. Also, on the scalloped circle I placed layered flowers with a half pearl center. The card base color is Brilliant Blue, with the next layer Sahara Sand designer paper. I’m not sure where the polka dot blue paper came from. I used silver from a tablet of scrapbooking paper behind the actual Tilda image. The scalloped circle punch is out of blue Bazzill Bling. The ribbon is from the little spools you get at Michael’s for $.99, and the gold heart is from Dress it Up Heart Assortment. The Tilda was colored using watercolor pencils. I used two very mini gems on the ends of the sentiment punch. The sentiment on the outside reads, "Been waiting for your birthday to arrive..." Inside the statement is punched and sponged and reads, "To wish you Happy Birthday, and to say "Hi!" I again used the polka-dotted paper as a base on the inside of the card and the Bazzill Bling on each corner, made using a corner punch.

I have been working hard to get my birthday card stash built up. In my family there are a lot of summer birthdays, and I have friends with summer birthdays as well. It is better to have too many than not enough. Besides, you just never know when an unexpected one will pop up.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often. Enjoy your week, and Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Just a Little Note - Card for the Day

2009-03-28T16:38:00.003-04:00

Hi All!

The card I made this time was using a new set of stamps from SU called A Kind Word. As you know from viewing my blog, I love people stamps. I chose to use purple on this card, which seems to be a color that has been popular with me lately, and yellow seems to always go with it as well. I used the top note die, cutting out two, one in yellow and one in the polka-dot darker purple. I cut the darker purple top note in half and only used the top half under the card. Just for something different. I went around the whole yellow top note design with the piercer. I stamped Just A Note, punched it with an oval punch and dabbed purple around the edges. Then, using a larger punch put the darker polka-dot purple behind that, and two brads to hold it together. Used plain white cardstock with a scalloped edge across the center of the card under the design, and prima flowers with colored brads as embellishments. Couldn’t find a challenge I thought this might fit, but this is the card I came up with and wanted to post it.

Enjoying this day. It isn’t as warm as it was a few days this past week, but the birds have been singing all day. Last night there were frogs every where. My kids were complaining about being able to sleep because of the loud frogs. There is a pond just over the hill from our house and you can here all the frogs from there as well. Every time a little bird starts singing, I pause for a moment until I realize it is a bird. The alarm on my cell phone, which I use quite often, is almost the same sound as those birds. It kind of cracks me up. I’m going to have to change the alarm sound, if that is possible.

I have spent days looking online for a tiller to buy. Last year I put in a small garden. My husband was afraid that I would put it in and not keep up with it, but I surprised him and did, and he loved it. I think he may have enjoyed it as much as I did. My Dad tilled the garden for me last year. I hated to buy one and possibly decide I didn’t want to garden after all. Now, since I am going to keep up gardening, I either need to buy one or rent one, which I am considering for now. My husband says to buy one, because we will use it. What am I thinking, it is a tool and he is a guy. It will get used, but probably not much. I guess it is better to have it than to not. Anyway, that is something I’m in the market for. I want to put in a few potatoes this year to see how they do. Did you know that according to the bible, you should not plant your garden in the same place for seven years? The soil needs to rest. You can plant your garden in the same spot for six years, but in the seventh year you need to let the soil rest. That year you need to put your garden in another spot. That is Old Testament teaching. It is a health law. A lot of people think they don’t apply today, but Jesus states that He did not come to change the law but to fulfil it. We don’t eat pork, shrimp, catfish, anything mentioned in Leviticus 11. This isn’t something that every one follows and it is according to your own conviction. I do wonder if planting every year in the same spot isn’t why we get E-coli in vegetables, and even some of the other contaminations. It is just my thinking. God has never led us wrong or lied to us. He wouldn’t, He loves us.

Well, didn’t mean to blah, blah, blah, just got off onto something, like I have a tendency to do. I want to thank you for stopping by, and hope you do again. Have a great weekend and Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Secret Crafter Challenge with a Gorjuss Girl!

2009-03-25T22:48:00.002-04:00

Hi All:

Well, I have another card to post. I made this card using my favorite color, green. The challenge at Secret Crafter is to make a card using your favorite color. I used a Gorjuss Girl stamp, and she has two kitties with her. I extended this card a little bit. It is actually 4-1/4 x 6 inches. The girl & kitties are colored with watercolor pencils. The yellow kitty is pop dotted up a little. There are little tear shaped gems along the scalloped border along the bottom. I used a Happy Birthday stamp with a light green ink, and went over that with a green gel pen. The two little pearl-like embellishments on the side are placed on pop dots, too.

Not sure who I will give this card to yet, but there are lots of birthdays coming up over the spring and summer months. Always good to have a birthday card on hand. Some cards are just too hard to part with, though. I hate having to decide which one of my cards I want to give up. I don’t know why. I thought that was why I made them, but I just want to hoard some of them.

I want to thank you for stopping by today, and I hope you will come back by. Enjoy your day, and Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Petal Card for The Sugar Bowl Challenge

2009-03-25T18:08:00.002-04:00

Hi All!

I saw this petal card on another blog while surfing the other day. I thought I would give it a try. Since it is so cute, I thought it would be a nice shape for something different for a Mother’s Day Card. My family is so use to getting my normal shaped card, that this is good for a change.

I have tied a ribbon around it to hold it closed, and the ribbon actually will just slip off. You don’t have to untie it. I like that. Won’t mess up the bow. I have a time doing that anyway. I used a bling paper with a shine to it, and the prettiest paper with butterflies on it. Don’t know who made either one of them. Inside there is Daisy Sugar Nellie. She is so adorable. My Mom’s favorite color is purple. The sentiment says, "For all you have done, and continue to do,
Happy Mother’s Day to you!" I don’t do mushy poems well. Daisy is colored with watercolor pencils. I used a gel pen on the dots on her white shirt.

Enjoyed making this card. I so hope I win my chance to choose a set on the Sugar Bowl Challenge. I would pick Gorjuss Girls #2. I love the #1 I already have. The cutest stamps.

Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope you do so often. Enjoy your day, and Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

A Little Box of Sweet

2009-03-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine has a die that cuts out this little box. It is a cute little box. We used acetate over the cut out on the inside and I put colored malted milk balls inside a plastic bag down in the box. I used one of the new Leanne Ellis stamps to help decorate the box. Not sure the brand of the patterned paper I used, but I remember that I picked it up at Archiver’s. I love the suede-like ribbon and the little embellishment is from SU, and I put a green brad down through the center of it. The best part of making this little box was sharing time with friends. Isn’t it always great to just be with your friends, exchanging stories and dreams. You appreciate that so much more as you get order, or so it seems.

I want to thank you for stopping by, and hope you do so often. I hope you have a wonderful day. Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Strawberry Tea - Forever! Or is that Strawberry Fields?

2009-03-16T06:30:00.001-04:00

Hey, thanks for stopping by. I started reading a new book, " The 5000 Year Leap." It is so interesting. Glenn Beck recommended it, and I understand now why he did. I am only a little ways in and I believe every American should read this book. Actually, when I finish it I am going to have my son, who is 15-1/2 years old, home-schooled, and loves politics, read it. It is about the Founding Fathers and the constitution. It is easy to read and simply written. The subtitle is "A Miracle That Changed the World. Principles of Freedom 101." If you want to know more about the constitution and how something written over 200 years ago can still be lived today, you need to understand all the thinking behind it, as well as the Divine leading our Founding Fathers had. Okay, on to the card.

This card is using the Strawberry Tea image from Sweet Art Ebony. This is so cute, but then all the images from Elizabeth Bell are cute. Also, the inside of the card, where a sentiment or note can be written is decorated as well.

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you do so often. Enjoy your day! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

A Cute Little Recipe Card

2009-03-15T18:54:00.005-04:00

This is the cutest little image. In the past I have made several recipe books for my sisters and sister-in-laws for their birthdays, and I thought this image would be good for some of the pages. Now, however, with new recipes I decided to make recipe cards that can just be tucked inside their recipe books. This card opens up with the recipe printed out or written on the inside. I have not put the recipe in this card yet. I got the card front finished, and wanted to show it off. I popped the hat, the nose, the cupcake, pie and the cookie. Also, I used glitter pens on those popped pieces as well, except for the hat and the cookie. The kiss the cook stamp was perfect, or at least I thought so. Not sure what recipe will go in this, but I have several new recipes that I have had a request for. This will be a great way to pass them on, and seem more special.

I hope you are enjoying this day. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you do so again. Until next time, Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

The Sugar Bowl Challenge - Talking to the Birds image by Leanne Ellis

2009-02-17T21:49:00.004-05:00

Hi All:

I know that it has been a while since I posted anything. I did get to do The Sugar Bowl Challenge this week. My card is Talking to the Birds, a stamp by Leanne Ellis. I love her images, and really enjoy coloring them. This challenge was to use one piece only of designer paper. I guess this Lasting Impressions paper is okay to be considered designer. The card is oversized because I got a little carried away on the ovals. Then, I used my scalloped edge punch on the LI paper and the textured paper from DCWV.

I spent this morning working on a bible lesson for Community Bible Study. We are studying Genesis and it has been so interesting. Over the years of church I have studied from Genesis, but never really started at the beginning and gone clear through, chapter by chapter and verse by verse. You talk about deep. I have enjoyed it so much! There are so many life lessons in the book. God is so good! After you start studying His Word, you see how simple life is meant to be. Of course, you throw us in it and we manage to screw it up somehow. I’m just thankful He is so loving and so forgiving. Can I get an Amen!

Well, I’m off to walk the Treadmill. I want to lose 30 lb by May 30th. I have lost a little bit but haven’t been real strict on myself. So, today I weighed myself, and I’m now working toward that 30 lb weight loss. I have gained 30+ lb since 2004, and it has just gone on long enough. If I lose the 30 lb I will be down to a pretty good weight for me, although most physicians even consider me overweight there. I feel good there and that is all that matters. I have been walking the Treadmill for quite sometime, and now have myself up to a good work-out. Yesterday, I went up on the incline and I could feel that in the back of my legs this morning. I think that is a good thing. I guess I have to feel the pain to know I am losing.

Okay, I want to thank you for stopping by, and I hope you do so often. Have the best day! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

A Giant Cupcake

2009-02-07T01:32:00.004-05:00

Hi:

For several days I have tried to get this cupcake posted on my blog. The first day ran out of hours. You know what I mean, right? The next day I found out that my camera ran out of battery. Again, you know what I mean, right? Anyway, after a run to the dreaded Wal-Mart, I have a battery, and got the picture taken, and now here is the picture. The picture turned out okay. And, the cupcake turned out okay, too. If I make another there are things I will do different. Of course, as a crafter/cardmaker, the wheels never stop turning to the next idea.

I started by tracing the cupcake bottom onto close to cocoa cardstock from SU. The icing top was traced onto pink pirouette CS from SU. I cut two of each bottom & top. Ran the top through the Cuttlebug with the swirl embossing folder. I sponged the edge and the embossed areas on the icing top with cranberry crisp SU ink. Then, I dabbed glue spots on the swirl ends and sprinkled dazzling diamonds from SU on it. The ribbon is pink pirouette attached to two punch outs, with a sticker on the front that says "be mine." The cherry is traced and cut out on cranberry crisp CS. Both cupcakes were put together and laid aside. I then used the bottom of a box tutorial that I got off of SCS. Not even sure which tutorial I used. I then attached the cupcake sides to the box. I thought it would be cute for a little girl to put Valentines in. My niece would love it. The 3 x 3 cards with envelopes fit in this. I wanted to get this on here to show it off. Almost forgot to mention that I used the Classic Stripes stamp on the bottom cup of the cupcake.

This talk of cupcakes makes me want to have one. Too bad I need to lay off this fattening stuff and eat more protein and fruits & veggies. That is one of the hardest things for me to do. I love sweets. I’m getting off this subject.

I just want to thank you for stopping by, and I hope you do so often. Enjoy this wonderful weekend. Here in the Southern portion of Ohio, we are going to have a heat wave over the next few days. We need to get thawed out from all the ice and snow over the past two weeks. So, until next time, Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Long Time No Blog

2009-01-31T10:13:00.002-05:00

Okay, it has been a little while since I last blogged. I need to get back on it. Today, I started out my Saturday with surfing. Time will really get away from you while your surfing. I was out and about, looking at new stamps and new cards, etc., and I ran across the blog - The Craft Table. Beautiful cards! There is blog candy being given away. You might want to go there and see all that the winner will receive. Pretty good blog candy!

So, since I have been inspired by all the things I would either like to have or be able to do, I believe I will go to the craft room, where I can do a little fun stuff. I have several images laying on my table ready to be colored. I just couldn’t decide what color to go with. Now that I have some ideas, I better get pencils to paper. Be back soon with a possible picture or two.

Hope your day is good and you get in some stamping today! Thank you for stopping by, and do so often. Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Hope Your Week is Going Good!

2009-01-28T03:32:00.002-05:00

Hi All:

Haven’t blogged too much lately, but I have been busy. I have a couple of things to post as soon as I get finishing touches done, so to speak.

We are having a winter storm right now. I figure I’m pretty lucky that we are not without electricity right now. There are plenty of people around us without it. So far, in Ohio, there are about 2100 homes without electricity, but in WV & KY it is up in the 15,000-20,000 homes. That stuff makes me so sad. I know there are so many people out there that had no back up heat method or anywhere to go when it is cold. Some turn to other heating measures that are not so safe. Please say a prayer for everyone to be smart, but also ask God for his help. I believe there is probably close to 10" of ice and snow on our driveway and yard. They are predicting that will receive about 2"-4" more tomorrow afternoon. I like the snow, but hate when there is ice. Ice is just way too hard to deal with. Even my indoor/outdoor kitty couldn’t walk on that stuff out there right now. He was sliding all over the place on his four little paws. It was quite an adventure for him.

Well, I am glad you stopped by. I wanted to tell you about a blog candy give-a-way. It is over on Marlene’s blog. I am telling you, because if you win I’m hoping you will stamp a few of those little H&S images and mail them to me. I would just love to have a couple of those to color. Sharing at least the images would be nice. I just wish so bad I could get my hands on some of them. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get them in the USA? If there is a place where I can buy them, please let me know. I just love them. So, check out Marlene’s blog. She colors so pretty. I especially love her kitty. I have two Ragdolls myself, and there is nothing like them.

Thank you again for stopping by, and please do so often. Next post should be with a picture. Me and my girlfriends worked on some things the other evening, and I need to finish up one thing on it and get it on here. Oh, let me ask one thing before I go. There are 4 of us, friends I mean, and we are wanting to do a scrapbooking/cardmaking cruise. If you come across this and happen to know some info on any, please leave me a note. Of course, we are wanting the east coast, since we are in Ohio, out of Norfolk, Virginia, would be great or even the Carolinas. Just let me know. Thanks for your time. Have a great day! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Monday Morning & TE Challenge

2009-01-19T00:35:00.004-05:00

Got my card finished late last night, early this morning, for the Taylored Expression’s Challenge. I always love the sketches on TE challenges. This was very fun! Did I happen to mention that I like green very much! Well, I actually have always loved green, although I have become particularly fond of pink over the past few years. Ooo! Pink & Green go so well together!

My card is made with mostly SU CS, except for the base and I am not sure what company that paper is from. I’m thinking that it may be one of Archiver’s, which you get 5 free with a coupon. Know what I’m talking about? Well, this is a Hanglar Stanglar stamped image I received from Marlene. I so wish we could buy these things. Would love to have so many more of these. I used spare parts hardware over the sentiment, which says, "Grateful," and is from SU. Just some buttons that I got in a bucket of buttons some time back. My image is colored with watercolor pencils.

Well, hope I have inspired you, if I haven’t shown you things not to do! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you do so often. Have a nice day! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Happy Sunday & WOJ Challenge

2009-01-18T20:13:00.003-05:00

Hi All!

What a wonderful day this has been. The snow looked so pretty falling. Of course, it isn’t a whole lot, and I would love to have a whole lot for a day or two and then be gone with it. At least it is not that right down frigid temps we had earlier. I hated it. I couldn’t get warm. Last night the temperature kept rising as the evening went on and I thought we were having a heat wave at 34 degrees. That is probably why the snow has stuck around today, because it had some moisture in it. Well, okay, I have talked enough about the weather.

I am posting this card for the Whiff of Joy challenge this week. It is to use a whiff of joy stamp and the colors green & purple. I used a mixture of SU papers, Kiwi Kiss, and SU purples. The ribbon I used was also SU. I colored my image with colored pencils and placed glitter on her wings as well as the white part of her bracelet. There is a little heart with the word "Love" engraved on it, hanging from the ribbon. The felt corner embellishment is from Oriental Trading and there is a little half pearl from SU glued to that.

The inside of the card is also decorated. The center heart has the words hugs & kisses stamped on it. All SU papers were again used as well as a 2" scalloped square punch. I cut off the scallop from two sides of each square and taped them together. The challenge was a great one. Enjoyed doing it so much.

Now I am off to work on another challenge. Several to do, but not enough time. It is so sad to have another life outside of stamping!

I want to thank you for stopping by and hope you do so often. Have a great day! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

For Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #50

2009-01-12T01:33:00.003-05:00

Hi All:

Well, the card I’ve made today is for Taylored Expressions. It is a little larger than normal size cards, but that is totally so I could get every little thing I wanted on the card, on the card. Does that make sense? Okay, I used "Crazy for Cupcakes" from SU. Most of my paper is SU. I colored the cupcakes with watercolor pencils & used glitter pens on the sides of the cupcakes & on the cherry. There is a piece of vellum paper covering the yellow cardstock and it comes from The Paper Company. I have pop dotted the sentiment up a small bit. What a fun sketch! I totally enjoyed coloring the cupcakes! It made me wish I had one. Of course, I would want white cake with the chocolate icing. . . YUM! Okay, let’s get off this subject.

Thank you so much for stopping by and do so often! I hope you enjoy today’s card, and become inspired. Enjoy your day, and Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

A Winter Wonderland Scene!

2009-01-10T00:01:00.001-05:00

This is a card made from a sheet of U-Cuts from Darcie’s Country Folks. I colored my trees to make them stand out and embossed the snowman. I then outlined the images with a black marker to cover the white edges. The U-Cut sheets are so cute. I need to get more of them.

I have been on a roll adding to my blog. I’m so happy to have the time to do it. It is also great to have the time to actually get to make some other things. Now, I’m working on Valentine’s Day. It is so much fun. Getting away from Christmas, is sad. There are so many neat stamps. I am, however, ready to move on to something else.

Okay, I’m getting to my craft room for some work time. I hope that you are having a stamping good day! Thanks for stopping by and do so often. Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

CPS & SNSS Challenges

2009-01-09T18:30:00.002-05:00

Hi All!

Thought I would try to join in the above named challenges this week. What I really enjoyed is that you could join two with the same card. I have the worse time picking and matching colors, but I love Pink & Black together. The new Luvvie stamp from Funkykits.com is great for Valentine’s Day. This card could definitely be for Valentine’s Day. The "love you" on the front of the card is a rub-on remark from Lasting Impressions, and the sentiment on the inside is from SU. Not sure of the set. I used mostly SU papers, the Top Notch Die on the inside, along with Creative Memories Cutting System on the outside oval. There are two designer papers, but I’m not sure the name of the company they come from. Luvvie is colored with watercolor pencils, both Prismacolor & SU’s. I used Papertrey White Cardstock, which is so good. Luvvie also has an embossed heart, which I used light pink embossing powder. There is a mini green Queen & Co brad in the center of the flower in her hair.

Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope you do so often. Until next time, Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Looks Like a Police Line-up!

2009-01-09T00:01:00.001-05:00

Getting together with my girlfriends this week, it was Tessie’s turn to make the project. She did well, and I had a great time making mine, even though I had an off night. We each chose our colors and colored our images. I always use watercolor pencils. I love the stamp on the card. It is from the set called Holiday Lineup, an SU set. I’m not all that happy with the way it turned out but I loved spending time with my friends, and that was the best part. I do love the stamp, though. It does remind me of a police lineup.

The tag was made from a pattern Tessie got from a web site. I messed mine up several times, and so this is what I finished with. It isn’t that much like what she printed off for us to do. I just got to the point where I was ready to get it finished. You know what I mean? I had made way too many mistakes. I was definitely having a bad night. I guess we all have those, but it is never easy to cope with. Another thing that threw me off, I hate wiggly eyes. It is one of those things that really bothers me. I wish I hadn’t used them, but I went on with the project, and never mentioned it to Tessie. The only way she will know is from reading this blog. Hi! Tessie!

Okay, I have to say that I’m happy you stopped by to see the things I have worked on. I hope you will stop back by often. Have a great day! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Clipboard Fun!

2009-01-07T00:01:00.001-05:00

Using Autumn Vine Designer Series Paper, I covered this clipboard to use at Community Bible Study. The ribbon is from Papertrey. Loved how it matched the SU Paper. The three hearts are covered chipboard. This was so fun to make. I wish I had placed the ribbon lower. I have to put something like a piece of cardboard under my paper, so I don’t run into the ribbon and mess up my paper. I guess we learn from our mistakes. It does look pretty, though!

Okay, I hope you have a wonderful day! Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you do so often. Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Cute Little Tags or Ornaments!

2009-01-06T00:01:00.002-05:00

Using my Hanglar Stanglar Stamp, I used shrinky dink sheets and stamped the image. I colored it with SU & Primsacolor watercolor pencils. I stamped the Whipper Snapper Snow Angel image and colored it as well. I then cut a 12" sheet x 1-1/2" piece of paper & folded it about 1/4-1/2" back and forth. Like the fans we use to make when we were in grade school. I then connected the ends and made it a circle. I punched out small circles where I laid over the center of the circle to help hold it in place. I baked the images and using circle and scallop circle punches, layered the papers, different in colors, as you can see from the picture. On top of the punched circles, I placed the shrunken images. I then placed eyelets on the top part of the tags/ornaments and put string & ribbon through each. This is to place them on either the tree or a package. You could use these to cover any occasion, such as weddings, birthdays, etc. I will need to make up a few for such occasions. They seem simple to make, but I sure did have a tough time keeping that fan-like strip from popping up on the edges. Cut your circles before you go to connect the ends. Make sure you use the good adhesive for the end. Then, I used glue on the back of my punched circle, to lay on the center of the tag. I layed a punch on top of mine to keep it down while it dried. They are fun to make, and I will be making them with different images.

I’m so happy you stopped by. I hope you will come back often. Have a very nice day! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Snowman Folder For Letter Writing

2009-01-05T00:01:00.002-05:00

Okay, this is one thing I got to make over the past couple of weeks, but didn’t have a chance to post. You are going to have to bear with me, because the next few items I post will be from Christmas, but they are items and not cards. Well, I think one might be a card, or two. Okay, okay! You can maybe get some pointers off them, if you feel inspired from them, and I hope you do. So, on to the recipe for this project.

This is one piece of SU Kraft paper. You can get the instruction for this folder at Dawn’s Stamping Thoughts. I have changed mine up a little to work with things I have. I used DP & a Lasting Impressions embossing template for my snowman & LI paper. Inside I used printed note paper from a journal, which I cut to fit the flap in the folder, and stamped it to match the envelopes. You will see this in the pictures. I’m presently working on a folder that I want to be able to use for any occasion. I’ll post it soon. I want to get a couple challenges accomplished before finishing it.

Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope you do so often. Hope your day is wonderful! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Luvvie on a Candy Bar Cover for Valentine's Day

2009-01-03T15:51:00.003-05:00

Love this stamp! A new one from Leann Ellis Designs available at Funkykits.com. This is Luvvie. Me & my friends, Barb & Tessie, get together occasionally, and we take turns teaching a project. It was my turn to teach. I wanted a candy bar cover, which I thought would make a good Valentine treat. This turned out cute, if I do say so myself! Of course, I mentioned the Sugar Nellie stamp above, and I also used a $1.00 stamp I got at Michael’s. The cover is made using SU In Color Pink Pirouett CS. This is embossed using a pale pink embossing powder, stamped randomly with a heart from the Doodle That SU set. I used Close to Cocoa SU brown cardstock & a designer paper from CTMH for the wrapper. The DP is punched with a Martha Stewart punch. Luvvie was colored using Prismacolor watercolor pencils and SU watercolor pencils, along with a blender pen. The ribbon on the wrapper is Heidi Swapp. The ribbon used for pulling out the candy bar is the ribbon original Alpine from SU. Tah-Dah!

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you will stop by often. Enjoy your day! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Finally, I'm able to post! Check out my Ragdolls!

2008-12-27T20:19:00.002-05:00

Okay, it has been a while since I have written, but I don’t know how I even got through Christmas, the way I did, because of this brain in my, which seems to only work half the time. I tell you, I’m not one of those people that can do more than one thing at a time. When I was younger, I was a multi-tasker and did great. Was always busy, and always getting so much accomplished. It is just scary the way I am now. I have to admit that I scare myself sometimes, with the way I forget things and deal with things. It is like a whole different person has invaded my body.

Okay, my blog today isn’t going to be long either. It is just a picture of my two Ragdoll girls, and my kids. I have to show you a picture I took at the tree of my kids. It was suppose to be a joke sort of, but actually turned out to be a good picture. There is one with the fedora on and one with it off. I’m showing you the one with the fedora on. He looks cute in it. I have been trying to get him to sing like Frank Sinatra. I believe he could pull off performing at events at fairs and such in the summer and maybe win some contests. He loves to clean up, and I told him to wear a black suit, his fedora and a skinny black tie and sing like Frankie, and he would have the older women in the crowd cheering him on, and he would win some events. He is only 15-1/2. He could knock them dead. His sister is 18, and looks as young as he does. So, that is my kids.

I wanted you to see pictures of my girls and how they have grown. My girls, who are sisters, and only 9 months old, are so beautiful, as you can see. Where they are sitting is in a window in my family room. My husband built them a four foot kitty tree, and he wanted to see if they liked it before he put the carpet on it. As you can see, they are sitting on their old kitty gym, although they have been climbing on their tree. They love to sit in this window, and I have placed bird feeders outside the window, about 5' from the window, and they sit there off and on all day watching the birds. They are just so sweet. I love them. Don’t worry, they don’t sit that close to the propane heater, it is just the way things were sitting when the picture was taken. Everything has been moved to its proper place since.

Okay, going now. I hope you have had a nice Saturday. Here in southern Ohio, we have had a 70 degree day today, and it has simply been beautiful. This is just a tease though. We are still in for some more winter, and I look for it to be not so kind. Okay, thank you for stopping by. Hope your weekend is great. Happy stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Challenge for I Heart 2 Stamp!

2008-12-02T15:33:00.002-05:00

Hi All:

Hope the Holiday weekend was good to you! I think I gained 10 lb. That is the worse part for me. Enjoying Christmas movies and munching while I watch. I have got to get some good snacks in this house. My husband is laid off until after Christmas. Having him home all the time is hard on me as far as eating, too. He wants baked snacks in the house all the time. Of course, he is skinny and can eat like a pig, and never gain an ounce. He has gotten himself a pudgy belly over the years, but not really anything to complain about. I, unfortunately, gain weight all over. I think that is a woman thing.

This card is for the SFYTT challenge on I heart 2 stamp blog. Check out the samples. This was a great challenge. My friend, Tessie, got together on Sunday afternoon, and made our cards for the sketch. I’m so slow that during the time I made my card, Tessie had made two. I am always so slow. My biggest problem is deciding colors. I like this little stamp. I got him at Whipper Snapper Designs. He is so cute. I used Real Red cardstock paper from SU, and designer paper from SU, too. The ribbon is also SU. I colored him with colored pencils and used a blender pen on the coloring. I think it is a cute card and would make a wonderful Christmas card if I had more of that paper. Isn’t that always the case - Never enough paper! What is a girl to do?

Well, thank you so much for stopping by. I hope that you will come back often. Enjoy your day, and have a stampingful week!

Toota-loo,
Karen

A Challenge for Secret Crafter!

2008-11-17T14:47:00.004-05:00

Hello:

Happy Monday! I know most hate Mondays. I totally understand. When I worked outside the home, I too hated Mondays. Even at home, Mondays are extremely busy days. I think it is because I use the weekend to think of all the things I have to do on Monday, after places and offices are back open.

Well, I have a card to post. This card is much bigger than the regular cards. The stamped image, which I’m totally grateful for receiving, is a little large and I had to make my card larger. I kind of like the size. I had a wonderful evening working on this card. It was perfect to relax and take my time, and it was just so nice.

The card is for a challenge on the Secret Crafter blog. Most of the paper used is Stampin’ Up. There are two pieces of designer paper but I’m not sure of the company that makes it. Also, there is a light green piece of glitter-like paper, which is hard to see in the picture, underneath the image, against the brown. Not sure who makes that either. Sorry! The challenge was to use buttons on your card. I got the buttons!

Well, I want to thank you so much for stopping by, and hope you do often. Have a Wonderful Day!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Happy Weekend - Check out Blog Candy!

2008-11-15T13:55:00.005-05:00

Hi All!

Thanks for stopping by. I have to tell you about some blog candy give-a-ways. First, check out Pressing Pretties for four chances to win blog candy on her anniversary. Both of the blog candy give-a-ways are wonderful. Hope I win! It is so exciting for just a chance, isn’t it? Okay, here is the other. I got so excited I almost forgot to tell you were to go so you too could sign up. Check out Scrap-Creations. She has Martha Stewart punches and some very cute Whipper Snapper Stamps. I love their stamps!

Okay, on to my post. I made this for one of the Verve Challenges last week when they were having a blog hop for the new releases. I wanted so much to be able to do them all, unfortunately time was a factor, as I’m sure most of you are aware of in your own busy lives. The little snowman was an older TAC. I love snowmen, so to me they are never out of style no matter the age of the stamp.

Thank you again for stopping by. I hope your weekend is wonderful. Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen

For the I (Heart) 2 Stamp Challenge

2008-11-11T01:11:00.002-05:00

Today’s post is a card for the I (heart) 2 Stamp Challenge. I like this sketch. I wish I could get more challenges covered. I have the best intentions. I look them up, print off the design/sketch and then cannot find the time to do them. With the upcoming season it is going to be even harder.

Well, I have got to get to bed. Another busy day tomorrow. Thank you for stopping by, and come back by often. Have a great Tuesday!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Magnolia vs. Stampavie Challenge

2008-11-08T14:35:00.002-05:00

Today’s post is for the Magnolia vs Stampavie challenge. This is the first challenge of the new web site set up for Magnolia and Stampavie stamps. I submit this for the challenge. I just love the little moose by Rachelle Anne Miller Stamps. Hopefully, I can soon purchase more of the little animal stamps she has in her line. I’m a sucker for animal stamps, however, there are so many stamps and not enough money!

Tomorrow, my post will be for one of the Verve Sketch Holiday Release challenges they have going on right now. There are five sketch challenges, and I got one finished, almost two, when the electric went off for several hours and I was unable to get the others together. I had them all colored, but not together and it was so hard to work by oil lamp. How did they do that so many years ago? Makes me admire Laura Ingalls so much more!!!
Okay, get out and enjoy your weekend! Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you come back often. Have a good one!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Happy Voting Day! It's Your Right and Your Duty.

2008-11-04T02:26:00.004-05:00

Hi!

Oh, I had the best day! I spent it with my friend, Tessie, whose blog is The Mountaineer Stamper. She is a sweet person. Together, we then called another friend, Vickie, Stamping Ever After, and met up at Buffalo Wild Wings, during her lunch hour from work, to eat and laugh. Of course, we cannot be together if we don’t laugh. What are girlfriends for! Tessie and I don’t work. We are lucky enough that our husbands have good jobs, and that has allowed us to stay home and raise our children. Like I stated in my about me section, I also have home-schooled my children, and it is wonderful. Anyway, God has truly blessed me with these wonderful friends. Tomorrow, Tessie and I are getting together again, and meeting up with our other friend, Barb, and taking her to lunch. She is a "sexatary" at an elementary school. Anyway, she jokes about this. But, she is off tomorrow because of the election and so we are all going out together to eat and laugh, I’m sure. I just wanted to mention what I had done today. I had a blast just running around with Tessie.

About two years ago, I made recipe books for my sisters and sister-in-laws. The books contained recipes of my family members on both my side, and on my husband’s sides of our families. I didn’t know how to scrapbook at the time, so I used stickers, buttons and all kinds of things to make the books. I look back now and see how much I have improved since starting those. Now, I have started one for my daughter, and I’m trying all kind of techniques, and there is no theme to it, just doing whatever I feel like doing or trying. My friends, mentioned above, have taught me so many things. A couple of the ladies like the antique-like projects, and I do not favor it most of the time. Then, I made this scrapbook page with my mother’s recipe for Carrot Cake, which by the way is spectacular. They went goo-goo over it, and thought the page was great. I’m posting it here today. There is a picture of my mom on the back of a horse. My grandparents were always big horse people. Mom learned to ride at a very young age, and still loves it though she doesn’t get to do it anymore. The other picture is of her now. I hope that you enjoy the page. Remember this is my first attempt at a vintage or antique-like page.

I hope your day is a good one. Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope you will come by often. I will be posting some challenges I’m working on. I had gotten out of it for a while, but I’m siked again! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,

Karen

Heard about Stamp a Sweet Impression?

2008-10-25T22:10:00.003-04:00

Well, I was surfing again and came across I (heart) 2 stamp. She was talking about Taylored Expressions new stamps, and I checked them out and I'm definitely ordering. The cutest stamps. I love cupcake stamps anyway, and I need them. Don't we all need this stuff? Well, if I will comment on the campaign they are having, and let you know about the campaign I will be registered in the drawing for a stamp set give away. Now, you know and you can go there and enter as well. Check out Taylored Expressions for the stamps, and www.tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com for the info. Hope you are enjoying your weekend. Please check back in. I've been working hard, and have several things to post, I just need to take pictures and get them on here. Hopefully, soon.

Toota-loo,
Karen

Any sweet candy is good but Blog Candy is my Fav!

2008-10-10T04:33:00.003-04:00

Hi All:

I was blog surfing tonight. Actually, I was trying to find a challenge I could work on, and was referred from one blog to Camilla's Blog. She is giving away blog candy. I am posting it here, hoping that you too will hop over and give it a try. I can't keep this info to myself. Sharing is what it is all about, or we wouldn't have blogs, right? Now, get yourself over there and comment!

Thanks for stopping by, and do so often. I do plan on posting a card in the next couple of days, maybe even this evening (I'm hoping), so stop by again to see. Hope your day is stampalicious!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Beautiful Monday! - Just a Note.

2008-10-06T11:51:00.003-04:00

Hello All:

Hope your weekend was great! The weather here in the Southern Point of Ohio has been spectacular. We have been so lucky with the just right temperatures and sunny days. I’m not usually a big fall lover, but with this weather what’s not to love.

Sunday, I spent the afternoon with my friend Tessie. She and I have the best times together. This week we sort of cased a project we saw on Stamping School. (Love this site. I may have to subscribe to it. I didn’t even know about it, but thanks for letting me know Tessie.) We changed it up a bit to be a note pad holder instead of a card. I think it worked out good. Someone has probably already made something similar to this. No need to let me know. Just let us have the "big head" and let us think we did it all by ourselves. We need that! No need to burst our bubbles!

I got three little note pads for $1.00 at CVS dollar bins. That is the notebook-like paper pad we used inside. I do know that the ribbon is SU, the green flower with the orange center is SU, and the button is SU. The "Just a Note" is stamped on pumpkin pie orange SU paper. This is something I do know. I do not know the name of the paper the actual pad is made out of, and I’m sorry about that. It is double sided. I did use glitter DCWV as a small strip right under the ribbon. Also, I used a Martha Stewart punch to cut my design at the bottom of the front of the pad holder.

Thank you for stopping by, and come by often. I hope your weather is good wherever you are. Hope your day is a good one. Enjoy!

Toota-loo,
Karen

It's All About YOU!

2008-09-29T20:18:00.003-04:00

Hi All:

Papertake Weekly Challenge this week is to do a card in yellow and mail it in. It is to benefit the BBC Children In Need charity. That’s a great cause. Check it out. I’m getting mine in the mail tomorrow. I finished it up today. Hope it is acceptable enough.

There is a story behind this card, which I am afraid is quite mean of two of my girlfriends. They know who they are . . . Barb and Vickie! On Saturday, my girlfriends and myself got together at another girlfriend’s house for a class. Tessie was hosting us over at her house, and teaching a nice little class of an Upsy-Daisy Box with four cards (you can order the kit on her blog, already cut.) Everything was going well until Barb mentioned that we should go to Hobby Lobby, and I said that I needed to go to AC Moore. I actually spoke before I thought, because I had promised my son, Mitchell, 15, that I would pick him up from his grandparents at 5:00. We all started discussing how much we wanted to go, however, Tessie could not go, and then I thought I shouldn’t do that to my son, and I backed out. I told Barb & Vickie that I would just go home and work on something for my blog, since Vickie & Tessie have been on me about posting anyway. Since, I backed out, they told me I better have something on my blog, and so here it is. I hope they approve! It actually made me work in my craft room, too, since I have been having somewhat of a motivation problem.

I just want to thank you for stopping by and hope you check out the Papertake Weekly Challenge, as well as the blogs of my friend, Tessie, and my "so-called" friend, Vickie (lol.) Hope your day is great!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Recipe:
Stamp: Whiff of Joy
Paper: Yellow all SU, and Papertrey white cs
Extras: Ribbon SU, oval punches SU, brads, gel glitter pens & computer for saying

Check out some sites to get Blog Candy!

2008-09-25T18:33:00.002-04:00

Hi All:

I’ve been busy, and so my blog has suffered. It is so sad! Late of the evening I find myself going blog hopping, and I came across My Blog by Cammie. Cammie is giving away about $1000.00 in blog candy! Can you believe that amount. Should I win, I’m sharing with my girlfriends! There are four of us and we have the best times together. Well, anyway, Cammie is asking for your help, for our help, so make sure you check this out. Tomorrow is the last day. Glad I found it in time. Go there now! The cards I’ve posted are for The Artman Home, where Cammie’s grandmother was cared for over the past few years.

I also want to mention that there is another blog candy give away on Stamps, Paper, Scissors and Donkey Smiles! That is the neatest name for a blog. Go check out what she is giving away. The stamps are the cutest I have seen in a while. I just hope I’m the winner. If I’m not, I will buy them. I will just have to do that. I’m always saving for the next craft buy! Isn’t being a crafter expensive! There are several sites I have things in my shopping cart, and I print it off and say I will buy that later. I’m so sad! Well, check out the sites I’ve mentioned. Just click on the names. I wish you luck! It is all just a matter of being the right number, right. Have a wonderful day!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Hump Day Post!

2008-09-10T19:39:00.003-04:00

Hi All:

I made this card sometime back. I don’t even know what set this came from. I do know that I stamped the image on the back of the glitter paper and cut around the flower. Then, I made the center out of a darker glitter paper. I cut the center of the flower out, and pasted the darker circle to the center so it would show through. The leaves are stamped from the same set, I believe. I stamped the sentiment on coordinating paper, without the glitter. Then, I ripped the paper and placed it on the lower right corner, as you can see from the photo. The ribbon is grosgrain brown. This is basically a very simple card, but it has that fall touch.

Yesterday, I received the seven stamps I ordered from Whiff of Joy. I’m so excited to have received them. I’m hoping to get to play with them later this evening or tomorrow. Just cannot wait to color them. All the cards I have seen made with them has had me envious to have them in my hands. Isn’t is so sad to be that way? There are just so many stamps out there that make me want to be a millionaire just so I can buy stamps. I’m sure every other rubber stamper can totally understand where I’m coming from here!

Something I hate is that school is back in session and it is so hard to get to the craft room, with all the things going on here. My son is home-schooled. My daughter finished up home-schooling last October, and is attending Ohio University Southern Campus this year. Today was her third day. She said it is fun but overwhelming. I’m excited for her. I never attended college. Everything related to college is very new to both of us. It is fun learning about it, though.
Well, I hope that you have a stampfully, wonderful evening! Thank you so much for stopping by. Come back often. Happy bloggin’!

Toota-loo,
Karen

I (Heart) To Stamp Challenge

2008-09-02T13:33:00.002-04:00

Hi All! What a beautiful day! I love day where the sun beats you up and there is not a cloud in the sky. I was scheduled for injections in my neck for the third week in a row today, but this one also got postponed. The first week I was 15 minutes late and the doctor would not do the injections because I was late. I know, I thought the same thing. . . How many times have I had to wait for a doctor, because he is running late? Well, I am one of those that thinks everything happens for a reason. Second time I was scheduled, last week, my daughter had the kidney stone and I hated to leave her, so I canceled. This week, because the doctor was going to be out for the next two weeks, they had to re-schedule. I wish they would have called and told me that. Actually, though, I was in the room, undressed and IV in place when they noticed the problem. No big deal again. Me and the nurse got to discussing the bible in big time detail. Then, I knew why they didn’t call. God has a plan for everything.

This card I have posted is for the I (Heart) to Stamp Sketch challenge. This was a fun sketch to work with. You know, I must confess, I rushed it because I thought it ended today. I had all these challenges marked and had Monday written on this one. Come to find out, it isn’t Monday when this one is due. I would have probably did a more detailed job, but here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it! Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you come by often. Enjoy your day!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Sketch Saturday Challenge #13

2008-08-28T03:02:00.004-04:00

Hi Everyone:

I’m really getting into the challenges, I just wish I had time to do more. It would be better if I were not so slow. I think too much. Anyway, I have two cards to post today. Both cards are for the Sketch Saturday Challenge #13. The first is a Christmas card with one of those cute little Hanglar & Stanglar stamps, along with a cute tree from a SU Christmas set. I wanted to go with a different color than the usual red and green Christmas colors. The second card is a birthday card, which is made with two of my favorite colors. Well, I think these are a couple of my favorite colors. I really like pink and brown together, too. Well the image on this card is from the Sheltering Tree set, which is also from SU. I enjoyed doing the challenge, and working with this sketch. Hope you like the cards. Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope you will come again often! Have a wonderful day!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Verve Sketch Challenge

2008-08-27T16:17:00.004-04:00

Hi All!

Wow, I have had a wild week so far, and it is only hump day! My daughter has problems with kidney stones, and boy that has been an adventure. She has had one with pain and vomiting off and on now for over a month. We have been to the ER and to the doctor, and she has passed one small stone, but there seems to be more. They do not think that lithotripsy is necessary and are waiting to see if she passes it. If not, I guess they will go from there. Today, she is doing good, and she even went to work today. She is 18. I just hope she has passed it already and there are no more problems. She vomited for over 24 hours, and was becoming dehydrated. The doctor said that if she didn’t get liquids down and keep them down to take her back to the hospital. Finally, with the help of Phenergan, she did it and the pain finally stopped. So, we go from here to see what will happen next.

This card is for the Verve Sketch. I liked working with this sketch. I’m so glad I played along. I have missed getting to do some of the sketches and hope to have a little more time to do them now that I can no longer swim in my pool. With the cooler nights, the water is not all that warm, and I closed it up for the winter. I sure miss it, and didn’t get to use it much this summer. So, here is my card. Hope you enjoy it. Have a great day!

Toota-loo,
Karen

My New Birthday Presents! Two Posts Today

2008-08-27T16:07:00.004-04:00

I have to tell you about my two new kitties. They are Ragdolls, and beautiful. I got them at a rescue near Lexington, KY. I have wanted a Ragdoll kitten for many years, but didn’t want to get one just yet, since I have one cat. The cat I have now is very old, and he is an outdoor cat. His name is Lucky. He adopted my family and we are so glad he did. Anyway, my husband told me to let him know what I wanted for my birthday, and I told him a Ragdoll. So, since they are really expensive ($550.00 to $1000.00), I decided to check rescues again. I have did this many times in the past. Just so happened that a rescue not too far from us, had two. And, for $250.00 each I could have both. It took me a couple of weeks, after them checking me out, but I got my girls three weeks ago. They are close to six months old, and sisters. I have attached a picture for you. They are suppose to be the largest domestic cat in the world, although some people have had bigger cats, these are just large by breed. Anyway, I have named them Lacy & Lilly. Lilly had fleas extremely bad when she came to the rescue and after three treatments still had them, so they finally had to shear her down. Her hair has not come back in yet, but it is coming in. Lacy is the fluffy one. She is very shy. Lilly is a wild child, and if it is something that will break or she can get into she is there! Of course, they have not warmed up to their new brother, Lucky, but I’m hoping that it will come in time. He is more suspicious of them, than they are of him. The girls just want to check him out. Their favorite place to lay, which is in the picture, is a table in my family room. This table doesn’t get used for eating much, but more for home-schooling, working puzzles and doing models. They have made it their new place to lay and watch outside. They like the hummingbirds that come to a feeder that is just to the left outside of the picture view. Wild child Lilly thinks that she can chase them, and about falls off the table sometimes. I hope you enjoy the picture of them.

Toota-loo,

Karen

My Card for Friday Sketcher’s Challenge

2008-08-20T17:36:00.002-04:00

Okay, finally I did another card. Inspiration seems to come and go. I like blog hoping, and there are some wonderful cards out there. I get inspired, but when I go to put things on paper by myself I just seem to be lacking something.

Love these little Sarah Kay stamps. I must give them a plug. I cannot believe the crispness to the stamped image. I am totally impressed.. Can’t wait to get more of them, though I have a few I haven’t even used yet.

This card is oversized because I wanted to use the Sarah Kay image. I used Stampin’ Up paper as well as Lasting Impressions, The Paper Company and basic black. The image is colored using SU watercoloring pencils and Crayola watercoloring pencils. The little flower is from SU but I’m not sure where the brads came from. Also, I used a scalloped punch. The oval was achieved by using Creative Memories cutting system, or at least I believe that is what it is called. Glad to have the sketch to work with. Thank you for stopping by to visit, and come back often. Wishing you a nice day!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Check out this blog!

2008-08-18T16:22:00.001-04:00

Hi All: I will possibly post a card later. Right now I want to tell you about a gal who is giving away blog candy, and in the nicest way. Check out this link and get in on the give-away. Hope you enjoy your evening.

Toota-loo,
Karen

Submission for Friday Sketchers Challenge

2008-08-14T13:31:00.005-04:00

Hi All!

It has been such a long time since I actually got to post a card. I have wanted to make it to my craft room, but it seems that it is one thing after another that keeps me from getting there. Last night I made this card for the Friday Sketcher’s challenge. After looking at their blog today, I’m afraid I may have did one thing not as exactly as they wanted, but I’m hoping that it is acceptable. The card was fun to make. I hope you like it! Thanks for stopping by and come back soon!

Toota-loo,

Karen

Recipe:
Paper: Old In colors from SU - Wild Wasabi & Blue Bayou as well as K&Co designer paper, and a basic black.
Stamps: Hanglar & Stanglar; SU So Many Sayings.
Ribbon: SU
Embellishments: Felt Frame from Oriental Trading Co., brads from SU. Image colored with colored pencils.

Katharina's Giving Away Blog Candy!

2008-08-06T18:45:00.002-04:00

On one of my surfs around the blogging world, I stumbled onto Katharina’s site (I’m actually subscribed to her site and surf there often). She has hit 100,000 hits and with that great milestone has decided to give away blog candy. Go to her site and sign up for the give-away. Wait until you see what she is giving away! I’m so hoping I win.
Toota-loo,
Karen

Thought I Would Write a Note About What Has Been Going On

2008-07-20T00:50:00.005-04:00

I haven’t posted lately. There has been so much going on. We traveled about three hours away to a hospital this week to have testing for my daughter. We had to stay two nights. One in the hospital for a test she was having. One night in a motel because she had to be there so early for her procedure. Anyway, we got the results yesterday, and she is normal and within normal limits, exact words! They have diagnosed her with irritable bowel syndrome, which really isn’t pleasant at all, but at least we know what we are dealing with. She is 18, and suffered with this pain for 2-1/2 years now. There have been 2-1/2 years of x-rays, ultrasounds, scans and monitoring. She has seen four different doctors for all her symptoms. So, we go from here. We are now back to the primary care physician. Well, she started Friday with a kidney stone, something to add to her misery. She has had these before. Today, she was in horrible pain again, and had to call off work. The pain stopped this afternoon and it was if she didn’t have any problem at all. Hopefully it will stay gone and she will pass the stone without any further problems. She has karate camp this week, so she can advance in belts. Say a prayer for her if you will. I would appreciate it. I don't handle things well when it is out of the normal routine. Things like this throw me off a little bit, and I run around like a "chicken with my head cut off." My house is a wreck. After I got home from the hospital on Tuesday, I just went out and laid in the sun in the pool, and I have been doing that everyday since. I feel that I have gotten rested after all the pressure I felt I was under, dealing with her being put under for the procedure. She is now dealing with the kidney stone. Seems there is always something for Moms to worry about. Okay, I will go on about something else.

This evening, I had a chance to do some blog surfing. I decided to hit all the places I have saved in my favorites. I visited "A Lil’ Bit of Me" and I am so glad I did! Marlene is giving away blog candy. You really have to visit. It is an H&S stamp! Hope I win! Sign up for the blog candy, but definitely check out her work. She is too talented! I like visiting her blog. So, I’m plugging for her.

Okay, I will close for the evening. I hope that everyone has a great day! Thank you for coming by, and visit again.

Toota-loo,
Karen

Howdy! Girlfriends

2008-07-07T13:52:00.002-04:00

Hope everyone enjoyed the Holiday weekend. I didn’t do much but did enjoy it. It rained almost all day on the fourth, so I never left the ridge. Stayed at home all day, and spent a lot of it alone, which was fine by me. A person needs that alone time every now and then.

I’ve been surfing the last week, trying to find challenges to participate in. I believe I have gotten some confused. The card I’m posting today I made for a challenge on CCEE Stampers. I may be too late to enter the challenge, because it ends today. Over the next day or so I’m going to get all the challenges straightened out, so I get them in on time. I’m so easily confused anyway.

The challenge was to use black & brown paper for your card base. The image is the only thing that can have color on it. This is the card I came up with. The image is Giddy Up from Sugar Nellie’s. I punched the brown flowers from SU cardstock with an SU punch. The layers were cut using the Creative Memories cutting system (I believe that is what it is called.) I used SU ribbons in brown and gingham. The image is with SU markers and watercolor pencils. I hope you like the card. I have trouble rating my own things. Thank you for stopping by, and do come by often. Have a wonderful day!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Sweet & Loved, Two Challenges in One!

2008-06-30T02:12:00.002-04:00

I couldn’t help myself. I had to use pink on my card. Pink seems to be my new favorite color. Of course, this time it worked out really well. I wanted to do a challenge, and it called for anything with checkered paper. Guess what? Just happened to have some pink checkered paper lying around. Can you believe it? Well, I also had thought about another challenge I thought I would try. I mixed them together. Never thought I could pull it off, but here it is. Just see what you think. The two challenges come from CPS (Card Positioning Systems) and it is the layout sketch, and the checkered paper challenge is A Spoon Full of Sugar. You should really check out both sites.

Believe it or not, I actually took the time to write down the items used on this card. Sometimes I have no idea what I’ve used, but since most of the things used today are new, I had it right in front of me as I opened the packages. Thank you so much for stopping by and do stop by again soon! Hope you have a nice Monday.

Toota-loo,
Karen

Recipe
Stamps: Stamping Bella - Emmybella; SU So very
Paper: Bo Bunny checkered pink gingham; KI Memories lace cardstock; Doodlebug Design pink, cupcake, sugar coated cardstock.
Extras: Watercolor pencils; markers; aqua pen; dazzling diamonds glitter; Fiskar corner punch, SU oval punches

Love The Summer!

2008-06-26T17:19:00.004-04:00

I’m so happy! Don't you just love summertime. It is the greatest time of year. Isn’t it just wonderful to be able to put on shorts and a T or a swim suit and head out in the yard? I just love that stuff.

I planted a garden this year. It is a food garden. I have always had a flower garden, or at least what I referred to as a flower garden, but this year I also planted a food garden. Because there has been rain all around me but not here, I had to water my garden. It looks like the corn grew overnight! The peppers and melons and strawberries all look really good. I didn’t put out much more. I want to see if I do any good this year. I’m just so excited. It has been so much fun, and so relaxing. I have really enjoyed it so far.

Well, today’s card is for the YAOB Challenge on Katharina’s blog. I chose sketch #10. I love the layout. I love the stamp I used. It is Flowers of the Sugar Nellie’s. There are so many wonderful submissions on her site. Check them out on her blog. Thank you so much for stopping by and do come by often. I hope that you have a wonderful day!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

WSC #53 - A Manic Monday!

2008-06-23T04:30:00.004-04:00

There is something that I find very fascinating. For a little over 20 years, I was a medical transcriptionist. I worked in hospitals most of my life, and actually had found a job that I could perform and make pretty good pay. I always told others that the only way I passed English in school was because we had weekly spelling tests and I can spell really good. Of course, my grammar is another story, but transcriptionist have to know grammar a little bit as well. That came with time. If a physician threw a huge word at me, I could type it. I would just sound it out and type is down, and it was right. Heck, I even surprised myself! It helped that I could type really fast as well. I could have a report typed up in no time at all. It was the best kind of job for someone like me. When I was in school, I didn’t even know a job like this existed. I wanted a good job really bad. I would go by the local hospital at least three times a week to see if there were any openings. Finally, I got an interview. She said she would let me know if she could train me in this position. Sure enough, she called the following week. From there it was history. I found out that you could go many places and be a transcriptionist. I have had several jobs over the years. Most of them paid really well. Before I stopped working completely, I worked the last 6 years at home. In 2001, I had started home-schooling our kids, but I was also really sick at the time. My husband got hired for a position at a local steel mill, with really good insurance, and told me I needed to quit working. So, I did!

Now, the reason I have told you this story, is for this. Remember, I said I home-school my children. Somewhere between passing English because of spelling, and typing medical terms for 20 years, and home-schooling my children, I forgot how to spell. I feel really silly sitting at my desk trying to think of the right way to spell a word, that I have used my whole life, and all the sudden the word doesn’t look right on the paper. (Thank goodness for spell check. In some cases, spell check cannot even help me!) Where did something go wrong in my head? My poor son will ask me about a word, and my brain shuts down and I’m like, "Don’t ask me! Look it up." Besides, you don’t ask your teacher how to spell a word. (In this case, she may tell you wrong.) Maybe it is a disease. My Mom says that my Dad has it. Of course, my Mom is pretty sharp and she plays cross word puzzles all the time. I bought one of those books the other day, but have only worked one. If it is a disease I have contracted it. I don’t like having it, but it seems that I am going to have to suffer the rest of my life with it. It pretty much seems incurable at this point.

This little card I made for Beate’s WSC #53. I realize that owls have become a new stamping hot lick. I, however, was having a problem finding an owl I really liked, for my tastes, of course. Anyway, I found this little guy at Stamping Bella, and thought he was adorable. I really liked the lay out for Beate’s challenge this week. I just new that I had to use him on the card. I used colored pencils on him. The paper is SU, except for the little scalloped piece. That is from a mat stack of some kind. The sentiment is heat embossed and from Fun & Fast Notes. Thanks for stopping by and come again. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Happy Birthday Wishes - SC #180

2008-06-17T15:43:00.003-04:00

Today is my baby’s birthday. He is 15. It is so hard to believe. His name is Mitch, and he is a really cute guy! In six months he will be able to get his driving permit. That is unbelievable! The time just flies. For birthdays around here, you get your choice of what you want to eat, what dessert you want, and $125.00. My son chose Pizza Hut pizza, Pizza Hut dessert pizza and the $125.00. Me and his Daddy learned a long time ago that we come out better by giving this gift, rather than a party. Parties are expensive. Sometimes parties can be disappointing as well. This way, the kids seem to be happier. I know I like parties, but I wouldn’t mind that $125.00 spending money.

I couldn’t wait to post my card today. I really love this stamp. It is Patty Birthdaycake from Stamping Bella. (The card was not made for my son, by the way! It was made using the SCS SC sketch from last Wednesday. Thought I better make that clear.) I have bought several of those little fairies from Stamping Bella, and I just love them. Last Wednesday’s SC180 is where I got the lay out for this card. I am just a little slower than I anticipated. (It is called life . . . It sometimes gets in the way of fun!) Anyway, this color mixture is from a card I did at an SU card party sometime back. The colors seem very good together, or at least I think they do. I hope you enjoy the card. Thanks for stopping by, and stop back often! Have a nice day!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Recipe:
Stamps: Patricia Birthdaycake - Stamping Bella, SU Fun & Fast Notes - sentiment, SU Homespun plaid - background
Paper: SU Certainly celery, SU Tempting Turguoise & Coral color that I’m not sure of brand
Extras: Piercing tool, brads, dazzling diamonds, white gel pen, colored pencils, embossing powder.

Father's Day!

2008-06-16T16:45:00.001-04:00

It was a nice Father’s Day!
At my friend’s house (Vickie Waugh) we made cards last week, and I used the one for Father’s Day for my father. I needed a card for my father-in-law, and so I cased it but only in a different color. My father’s favorite color is green, so I changed up the paper on the bottom of the orange and green card, so the DP on the bottom was green. I wanted the cards to be similar so that I didn’t feel like I made one better than the other. Does that make sense? Do you understand where I’m coming from. Seems they both had a good Father’s Day, even though my Dad had to share his day with my niece’s birthday party. She will turn 5 on the 18th. She is a real hoot! My dad babysits her. My dad will be 71 in August. Needless to say, she is spoiled.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoy the cards. Stop back by often, and have a great day!
Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

It's A "Grad" Ole Day!

2008-06-11T14:48:00.002-04:00

It's a "GRAD" Ole Day!

Hi!

Today, my daughter, Victoria, age 18, graduates. She has been homeschooled, and got her GED in October. The program that she attended to take her GED has a graduation for all the people who have gotten their diplomas throughout the year. That is very nice. So, this evening we are attending that ceremony. I cannot believe that it is actually happening. It is hard to believe that she is 18. I still want to treat her like a child. She has grown up into a beautiful person.

I just had my son, Mitch, 14, to the doctor for an ear infection. He has had problems with his ears all his life. Every summer he ends up with an ear infection from swimming. That seems to be the case this time as well. So, the doctor put him on an antibiotic and a drop. Hopefully, he will be in good enough shape to attend Victoria’s graduation ceremony, without too much pain.

Okay, about today’s card. Hard for me to recipe this one. I made is sometime back, and wanted to post it sooner. I have not really had much time to do any cardmaking, and I hate that. It may help my stress if I could be able to make it to my craft room. Anyway, there are two different sets of SU stamps used in this card. I cannot remember the names. I am so bad that way. There is also a mixture of items used on the card, but I think you get the general idea of how it lays out. I hope you like it.

Well, thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful day! Please return to check out my cards and read in on my updates. Have a good one!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Glamorous Friday - TGIF!

2008-06-06T13:25:00.001-04:00

Glamorous Friday - TGIF!

This evening I get together with my girlfriends. We are going to make cards. I love being with them. They are all such Hoots! We had a ball last week. We laughed so hard, that it made me happy all week. Don’t you just love laughing like that. It is just good for the soul.

My friend, Tessie, let me stamp her Glam Girl stamps. I cannot stand things that don’t have eyes, so I gave my Glam Girl eyes and shades. She turned out cool! So, here she is and I hope you love her! She looks Fabulous to me, or Glamorous to me! When I look at her, I always think of that song “I Will Survive!” You know, late ‘70's, early ‘80. Well, thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoy your weekend! I sure know most of you are saying TGIF! TTFN!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Recipe: Bazzill Bling Orange and DCWV Glitter Paper as well as Lasting Impressions
Stamp: Glam Girl from CC Designs & sentiment from TAC
Embellishments: Ribbon, brads, buttons.

Sugar Nellie Kitty!

2008-06-05T00:30:00.004-04:00

Today’s card is a little larger than I usually do cards. It is 6.5 x 6.5 inches. There is white cardstock covered with a polka dotted, pink, piece of Lasting Impressions paper. I used SU paper on the layering under the image. The image is one of my new stamps from Sugar Nellie - Kitty. It just impresses me that I got these from Scotland. Guess I am easy to impression. Oh well! I pop dotted the kitty & the little girl’s hat. Along with the Sugar Nellie, I used the Polka Dots & Paisley stamp set sentiment from SU. The blue flowers are those die cut blooms from SU. The half scallop is a Your’s Truly from Achiver’s. I placed tiny, star shaped rhinestones all the way around the scalloped edges. The card took me a while to make. I’m so slow! I wanted to do this image up well, because I like it so much.

The pictures turned out different and I wanted you to be able to see where I pop dotted the kitty & her hat. It is hard to see in either picture, and one of the pictures shows a glare. I just couldn’t get a better view for some reason. The pictures kept turning out basically the same every time I took them. Thank you for stopping by, and hope you continue to stop by often. Have a nice evening!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

A Hostess Club Stamping Frenzy!

2008-06-04T02:46:00.003-04:00

Okay, I have a story. Not a long one, like most of mine, but a story. Friday night, me and my girlfriends got together at Vickie’s house. It was the hostess club she has going, and all of us involved are pretty close friends. Anyway, Tessie and I received our order from Stamping Bella, and had all our cute little stamps out showing the other girls. We decided to share, and so we pulled out the Stazon Black and passed the stamps around the table, stamping up Bellas and Fairies so everyone could try them. I sat today coloring some of mine. Also, Tessie had gotten some of the Glam Girls from CC Designs, and I stamped a few of those. I was thinking of buying them, and getting a chance to play with them helped me decide. After coloring them today, I believe I will. They are so cute.

Today, I received an order of Sugar Nellie’s. I ordered 5 of the Sweet Art Ebonies. They are so adorable. I stamped and colored one of those tonight, too. I love this one. It is a little girl feeding a kitty. I cannot wait to make a card. I was in a coloring mood today, so that was about as far as I got . . . coloring!

A couple of years back I decided to make recipe books for all my sisters and sister-in-laws for their birthdays. I didn’t do scrapbooking, because I had never even seen scrapbooking. I would buy these little books for $1.00 at Dollar General, take them apart and run the paper through the computer to print out the recipe. After putting the book back together, I would decorate the pages. Then, one of my friends told me that was similar to scrapbooking. Then, after I met up with all these ladies that really know about scrapbooking, I changed my books a little. I am now working on a new one. The post for today will be a page for my new recipe book. I love to dry emboss and don’t do it too often, but I did a little for this page. Hope you like it. Thank you for stopping by. Please come back by often.

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Recipe: Cow, sheep & fence are from a plastic stencil from Wal-Mart
Paper: CTMH kit (not sure of name) All pinks and browns
Embellishments: Black brads for eyes, antique looking brads on recipe corners.

Weekend Challenge Sketch #50

2008-06-02T10:46:00.004-04:00

WSC #50

This is my card for the Weekend Sketch Challenge from Beate's Fresh & Fun Blog Challenge. I just received Matilda in the mail on Thursday, and because of all the busyness of life, didn’t get to play with her until last night. Isn’t she just a beautiful little fairy! She came from Stamping Bella. I cannot wait to do a few of the others I bought.

This card was placed on Bazzill Bling Pink paper. I used designer paper from K&Co & placed little jewels at each ticket punched corner. I layered my image on a piece of SU cardstock and white cardstock. Also, I used grosgrain green ribbon and colored pencils to color Matilda. I hope you enjoy the card I have posted today. Thanks for stopping by, and please come back by soon. Have a wonderful Monday!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

SCS Sketch Challenge #178

2008-05-29T19:34:00.002-04:00

SKS Sketch Challenge #178

Busy again. Had a lot to do today, but it was not bad busy. Of course, the worse part was the Wal-Mart run. I hate that. I try to go to Wal-Mart once a month, and do my monthly shopping that day. I load up and try real hard not to go back for another month. It is sometimes hard to not end up there before the month runs around but it happens. After running, we ended up home to do some work outside and clean on the pool. The water felt pretty nice, but I think I will wait a few more warm days before I attempt that first swim. I like my water a little warmer than it presently is at the time.

Last night I had the chance to work in the craft room, and I tried my hand at the Wednesday Sketch Challenge on SCS. The card below is my card submitted on there. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you so much for stopping by. I appreciate it so much. Enjoy your evening and come back by real soon.

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Stamps: SU One of a Kind
Paper: SU & K & Co designer paper
Extras: Scalloped square punch, Queen & Co brads, embossing powder, ticket punch

Look at the Pretty Kitty!

2008-05-28T15:56:00.003-04:00

Haven’t blogged in a few days. This time of year is so busy, but not bad busy. I have been working in the yard, preparing the pool, planting flowers, starting my garden. Then, there are the get togethers, birthday parties, Memorial Day picnic, etc. This is all good stuff, but makes it hard to get to the craft room. I’m sure you all can agree. I hope you, too, are busy with nice things this time of year.

The card I’m posting is one that I made for a swap. Needless to say, someone out there has this card! I hope they like it. The stamp is from Magenta. Actually, it is a double kitty on the actual stamp, but I made it single on the card. The papers are SU. I used colored pencils to color the kitty, and the brads are Lasting Impressions. I like LI’s brads. I wanted to get something up to share, so I looked through some pictures and came up with this one. Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by, and come back again soon. Have a wonderful afternoon!

Toota-loo,
Karen

It's Almost Here!

2008-05-22T19:35:00.002-04:00

For the first time in days we actually had a beautiful, sunny day, with a nice temperature today. Tomorrow is suppose to be even warmer, and the weekend is looking to be wonderful. Here in Ironton, we have the oldest Memorial Day Parade in the nation. It is really a biggy for this little town. Folks who have moved away actually plan their vacations around Memorial Day just to come back home and be here for the parade. As the day we salute those who have served our country, near and far, years ago and now, people line the streets, in order to pay tribute. The gathering of family and friends, meeting at the parade, is a wonderful time. I hope that wherever you are that you too will be able to gather with family and friends and spend time with those you love this coming weekend.

Now, for today’s card. This is made with the oval punch. I outlined every oval with a little bit of gray coloring. I cut the black cardstock with craft scissors to make it look torn. The flower & flower center are laid on black cardstock too. I just use scraps of some silver and black & white paper to place behind the flower & tied the bottom of the card with black & white gingham ribbon. I placed stickles just along the lower half of the flower center. Hope you like the card, or at least the colors. Have a wonderful evening, and come back by soon.

Toota-loo,
Karen

Weekend Challenge Sketch #48

2008-05-19T04:56:00.002-04:00

wsc #48

Here is my card for Beate's weekend challenge. My computer is in a sad state. I am definitely going to have to get it looked at. I am just lucky I got my card posted. Glad I participated in the challenge. Thanks for stopping by. Please stop back by soon. Have a wonderful week!

Toota-loo,

Karen

BLOOM where you are planted!

2008-05-17T14:42:00.003-04:00

Bloom Where You Are Planted!

Today, the sun is actually shining on the Southern Tip of Ohio! It is not raining...Yet. That’s right...I say YET. It is suppose to rain today again, as it has every day for the last several. I guess it is the rain that makes everything pretty and green and gives us all the beautiful spring colors. Okay, we can take the rain in exchange for that.

Today, I’m posting a card that is all about the spring, whether it be spring of the seasons or the spring that blooms in a person. All the paper, except for the designed paper, is SU. The butterfly is made with vellum, cut twice, and made using a pearl headed stick pin in pink, pearl, green & blue beads. The bloom stamp is from the Michael’s $1.00 stamp bin. Not sure where the flowers came from. I have way too many flowers in my flower draw to even figure out where they all came from. I used the half circle punch and ticket punches making this card, too.

Hope you enjoy my Saturday post. I’m off now to do some necessary things outside, while it is not raining. My solar cover needs cleaned so I can put it on the pool and get the water warm. They are predicting 80 degrees here for next weekend, which sounds wonderful. My daughter turns 18 next Monday, Memorial Day, the 26th. It has gone so fast, and I figure I am going to have a rough week handling this. Keep me in your prayers! Okay, go out and enjoy the day. Take advantage of the sun and a day off. Thank you for stopping by, and do it again, please!

Toota-loo,
Karen

May Flowers!

2008-05-12T21:50:00.003-04:00

May Flowers!

I was thinking about starting a challenge on my web site. The idea occurred to me last night, while working on Beate’s WSC. I ask myself why I look so forward to doing her challenge? It is just so fun. Not only that, I would like to win. Don’t we all like to win? Even if there is no prize, it is the thought of winning. In my case, I would want to give a prize. Not sure how or what to award yet, but it sure would be fun to give a gift away. I guess I need some response. Also, I’m not sure how you do those little sketches to let others see what the design should be for the challenge. Anyone who can tell me how, I would love to hear. So, if you think you would like participating in another challenge, leave me a comment and I will see if I need to follow through with it.

Now, on with today’s card. It is PINK, and I used Versamark to stamp a little flower as the background. Some designer paper was used as the long stripe down the side and then I used Stampin’ Up paper again for my layers. The flowers are Queen & Co. Queen & Co items are one of my favorites. I just love all that color! I used ribbon to tie around the stamped image. “Thinking of you” is from one of those $1.00 sets from Michael’s, and the stamp used for the stems for the flowers is from A Sheltering Tree from SU. Hope you enjoy the card! Thanks for stopping by. Stop back by soon.

Toota-loo,
Karen

Weekend Challenge Sketch #47

2008-05-11T23:42:00.005-04:00

Beate’s Weekend Challenge #47

I’m hoping that everyone had a wonderful Sunday! Mine was very laid back. I went to see my Mom & Dad, and spent the afternoon at their house. We watched a movie together, and talked. My kids were there with us, and it was a very nice visit. Usually, when I stop by their house, Mom is at work, and my Dad is babysitting my niece. She is 4, almost 5, and very fun! My Dad is 70, and the two of them together are a hoot. Most of the time I am in a hurry, and just run in to see what the two of them are up to, and then have to hurry on my way. So, today was really nice to visit, especially since Mom & Dad both were there. Out of my siblings, my brother had already been there to see our Mom, and my sisters were coming by later in the evening. I didn’t get to see any of them. Life is so busy anymore. Everyone has to be somewhere, or in a hurry to get somewhere. Life is just hectic for most. Anyway, my Mom seemed to be happy, and glad that everyone was in good health and safe, and I guess that is all any Mom can ask for. I know that we (my siblings and myself) are all very lucky to have such wonderful parents, and to still have them around. Happy Mother’s Day! to all the Moms out there! Hope your day was a good one. Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon. I’m on a roll for posting.

Toota-loo,

Karen

Recipe

Stamps: SU - In Full Bloom & Barouq Motif (not sure of spelling)

Paper: SU

Ink: Stazon black

Accessories: Bling, brads, ribbon, colored pencils, punches, hardware

Too Much of a Good Thing is a Good Thing

2008-05-10T21:55:00.003-04:00

Too Much of A Good Thing is a Good Thing!

Well, Alan Jackson thinks I’m right, too much of a good thing is a good thing. Can’t have too much of a good thing can we?

The card I made to post today turned out really cute, or at least I think so. The only problem? I took the picture with the card upside down! Now, how goofy is that! The picture turned out okay, and I didn’t even notice that it was upside down until I went to load the picture on the computer. I noticed that the words were not right. Just too silly! I’ll just say that is my first mistake this year and let it go at that! Ha Ha!

Okay, thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and if you’re a Mom...HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Toota-loo,
Karen

Great Balls of Fire! I've Been Inspired!

2008-05-09T16:57:00.003-04:00

Okay, I have a post for today. Actually, I could post several. First, I have a story. The thing with me is that I always have a story. My girlfriends tell me I always have a story. I’m not sure if that is good or bad, but they put up with me, and I’m glad about that.

On Saturday, Vickie, Barb, Tessie and myself hit the road for another road trip. This time we headed north to Cincinnati, which is a little over 2 hours for us. First stop, Archiver’s. We did make & takes and the other girls did scrapbook pages. I just love this store. Wish so much there was one closer to us. Two hours away is the closest we can find one. Then, we hit a place called Scraps Etc., and bought them out. Next, we hit Michael’s, Hobby Lobby and a Joann’s, where we left the shelves bare. Way too much fun for one day! When we travel away from home, we have to eat at Big Boy! Barb & I love Big Boy, but Vickie & Tessie are not as impressed as we are. They tolerate it for the sake of us. So sweet!

Well, after that trip, I have to say that I was inspired. Haven’t really used all that much of my new stuff, but then I had bunches of new stuff to begin with. Isn’t that just like a papercrafter? We have bunches of new stuff, but we are always ready to buy more, and so we do. Have to have the latest new gadget or something we saw someone else use and it was just so wonderful. I love it. Hate spending the money, but can’t live without it.

I should mention my health situation. It is for those who have asked. Thank you for thinking about me, and most of all praying for me. I know it is prayers that got me through everything. I had to have an IVP because of the kidney blockage, and there was nothing on the IVP. Every thing was completely cleared up. GOD! The only thing to explain it. The place on my right hip is not a mass. GOD! That is the only way to explain it. Now, I saw the GYN, and he is checking the ovarian cyst. He ordered another ultrasound, but I do not have the results of that yet. He did have the results of the lab work, though, and everything was normal on that. He had ordered a CA-125, and for any one that doesn’t know, that is a test for tumor markers, and it was negative. That means no cancer. How wonderful! I find out next week about the cyst and what will happen next. I’m not worried. God is in control.

Okay, for the post. This is my first scalloped circle card. The card is from SU. I used all SU materials except for the two little flower brads, the yellow brad and one of the scalloped circles under the flower, which is Lasting Impressions paper. This card was very fun to make, and I stayed right on top of it once I started. I didn’t have any idea what I was doing until I got started. Everything fell into place, and I love the way it turned out. I sure hope you like it as well. Thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings. I hope you have a wonderful day! Stop back. I hope to post again tomorrow. I have three more cards I created recently and hope to post over the weekend.

Toota-loo,
Karen

Happy Baby Scrapbook Page 6 x 6

2008-05-02T00:29:00.004-04:00

Don't you just love how this picture turned out crooked? I wonder who takes these things? Yell, right! Well, I did this little 6 x 6 scrapbook page for Scrap, Stamp and Be Merry's Erin. She wanted some baby scrapbook pages, and so I'm sending this one her way. I'm not much of a scrapbooker, but thought I would try. If it isn't her taste, I understand and nothing is lost. It is hard to come up with an idea for a page this small and put a place for a picture on it. Hopefully, I will get better at doing that as time goes on.

Well, I thank you for stopping by, and hope you have a nice, warm, wonderful Friday! TGIF! Come back soon!

Toota-loo,

Karen

Beate's Weekend Challenge #45

2008-04-28T15:43:00.002-04:00

This card was made with a Lasting Impressions template. I love this little dog. I have pop dotted him, with another dog exactly like him underneath. Hope you enjoy today's card. Was fun making it. I love dry embossing, but don't seem to do it often enough. Hope your day is a bright, nice, easy day! Thanks for stopping by, and come back often.

Toota-loo,

Karen

Groovin-The Rascals-1967

2008-04-27T21:03:00.001-04:00

I have placed it here for you also to enjoy.

Groovin' On a Sunday Afternoon

2008-04-27T12:45:00.011-04:00

I found this song appropriate for today. You can be groovin’ no matter what you are doing. Perfect day to do whatever it is you like. I watched a video featuring this song. It is on here for you to enjoy!

The video is very relaxing, just like the song. Lately, I have been getting into older songs and their wonderful lyrics and rhythm. That might be a sign that I’m getting old, although my 14-year-old son seems to like them as well as his metal bands. I’m happy about that. Variety is the spice of life, right?

Today, I’m using another card that I made some time back. Everything on the card is from Stampin’ Up, except for the buttons and ribbon. I really like how this card turned out. Of course, it is so rewarding when something comes together pretty well. I hate sitting at the craft table for hours and not succeeding at something I had in my head, from it not turning out as well as I wanted, or had pictured. Sometimes it is very hard to get it down on paper. I did work on a card that I’m okay with and will post it soon. I like the way the flowers turned out on it. I just have to glue everything to the card. I sure hope your Sunday is a “Groovin” kind of day, and you enjoy my card. Hope you enjoy the video, too. I sure enjoy you stopping by. Love looking at the counter, watching the numbers go up. Please stop by often. Thank you for doing that. Have a great one!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Let the Sun Shine In!

2008-04-24T18:20:00.002-04:00

Well, we have been pretty lucky here in the Southern Ohio Valley over the past couple of days. I love it, 80 degree temperatures. Starting Saturday, it looks like we are taking a turn for a cold front, but that is part of spring. I’m thinking it will be time to clean the pool and prepare for swimming soon. I love that stuff!

Went to Tennessee this past weekend to a Rod Run, and had a blast. My husband is rebuilding a ‘72 Mach One Mustang, and he was inspired by what he saw. Of course, according to him, his will be so much better looking than those he saw at Tennessee. If you had a car there or know someone who did, don’t take offense to this. He is just a normal man!

What I liked best about Pigeon Forge, Tennessee was the Scrapbook Superstore. WOW! I had so much fun spending money in there! Their Clearance Store was awesome. It was a separate building. Everything in this store was 50% off. Got some stamps and all kinds of extras! You know all that stuff we cardmakers/papercrafters cannot live without. Way too much fun! Made my trip complete. It was right up there with laying on the front of the boat, reading a book and eating candy! That is something to me. Well, if you make it to Pigeon Forge, definitely check out the Scrapbook Superstore.

I’m posting an item I made sometime back. It is a tiny lunch box which I bought at Dollar Tree. It is plastic. I covered it with paper and decorated it with all kinds of embellishments. I tied ribbons to the handle and it looks just like the big ones, only about half the size. It would probably hold those little 3 x 3 cards a lot better than the regular size cards. I just thought it was cute. I made one for my niece, and she used it to put Valentine’s from preschool in. It is a good size for that.

Okay, that’s it for now. Hope you have a wonderful evening! Thanks for stopping by and come back often.

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #43

2008-04-13T23:18:00.003-04:00

Hope it is okay to do a side view on Beate's weekend sketch challenge. I did mine laying down, so to speak. I've titled it Wishing You Love!

Wishing You Love - Always wishing you love. Love is definitely what makes the world go round. When you listen to the news you think that there cannot be much love in the world, but what you don’t hear is all the love that comes out of all the bad news. People are so full of love that when something bad happens, they will stretch out their arms and help others to do whatever they can to make things better. We have seen a lot of the strength of the American people over the past few years, with their willingness to reach out and help others around the world in need, as well as right here in our nation. But, you can also see the kindness and love in others that show up to help search for a missing daughter or mother, as we have seen on the TV lately. Actually, we have seen way too many missing people stories lately. Something bad did happen to cause these people to come lend a hand, but they show up and that is love at work. God is love! That is God bringing the good out of the bad. We are so lucky to have such a loving God, a God who has given us love. Thank you, Father, for allowing me to have love, to be loved and to love.

Sure hope you don’t mind the sermon. Just a small story to go along with my card. I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have to so many loving people around me. I hope that you are surrounded with love today. Stop back by tomorrow to see what new thing I have for you to glance at. Have a wonderful Monday!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Stamps: SU for a friend. TAC - girl stamp
Paper: CS - SU. Bo Bunny - green polka-dot, Doodlebug sugar coated pink
Embellishments: Ribbon, rhinestones, gel pen, paper piercing.

Hanglar & Stanglar Blog Candy!

2008-04-12T22:50:00.003-04:00

Katharina's Creative Place is the spot to check out! She is giving away one of those most wanted Hanglar & Stanglar stamps. I love those little things. She shows some wonderful talent and you should make sure and check out her work. I love her style. Don't miss out, or you'll be sorry you did!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to post something for you tomorrow. I've enjoyed some down time today. I've been surfing and checking through challenges. I believe I have a couple ideas for things to work on tomorrow. So, hope everyone has a nice night and checks back by tomorrow.

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

I've been awarded!!!!

2008-04-12T21:39:00.007-04:00

One of my talented, sweet friends has gone and nominated me for this award! Tessie, The Mountaineer Stamper, is one of the most talented paper crafters I personally know. Her creations are awesome and she presents a style all her own. I hope you will please check out her blog. Thank you, Tessie, for nominating me for this honor. So, now I get the honor of naming 5 others this award should go to. It is a very hard thing to do, because limiting myself to just 5 is difficult. There are so many talented people in the stamping/scraping world! Hooray for that!

So, here is what you are to do:

1. You pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. List the names of the people you chose to receive the award on your blog and link to their blogs. Then go comment on one of their posts to notify them that you have given them this award and link to the post on your blog.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name of the person who gave them the award and link to their blog.
The Award-winner and the one who has given the award have to show the link to the Arte y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

1. aloadofoldblogocks.blogspot.com
2. flutterbyatomicbutterfly.blogspot.com
3. dawnanewday.blogspot.com
4. carlastamps.blogspot.com
5. whatchastamping.blogspot.com

Thanks & Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Princess, Queen . . . GODDESS

2008-04-12T00:12:00.003-04:00

Another Tingle Heart Stamp. You know, if you have read my blog before, that I love these stamps. I got this stamp new this week, titled Goddess. The corner stamp is Tingle Heart as is the sentiment. I made this card for the Wednesday Challenge on SCS - SC171. It was a challenge to use ovals on your card. I made my ovals using the cutting system by creative memories. I used a gel pen to jazz up the edges on the pale blue oval and dot the centers on the flowers on the yellow oval. The “Goddess” is colored using colored pencils, again one of my favorite tools, as is the corner stamp. I used tempting turquoise from SU to stamp the sentiment stamp. I used gel pens to make the beads in her hair pop and rhinestones on three of the corners. The paper is crimped and lifted off the cardstock with pop dots. I used gel pens on the crown in the corner for an added touch as well. Another fun coloring project. Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you have a wonderful evening! Come by tomorrow and see what I have for you.

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

INSPIRATION - FINALLY!

2008-04-10T17:56:00.004-04:00

Okay, a little inspiration! Finally! I got an order from Art Gone Wild today. So Happy! Got some new Suzy Toronto stamps, and can’t wait to color on one. Anyway, I did this little card today. I got this Girlfriends stamp from Stamping Bella - Best Friends Forevah! I was stumped on colors, but figure these worked out okay. This is a tri-fold card. Started with a 12" piece of off white cardstock which is 4-1/2" wide. I scored at 3-1/2" and at 7-3/4" and folded it in. As you can see, I put two eyelets on the large fold in at the bottom and ran pink grosgrain ribbon through it and tied it. There is a piece of SU DP, ½" across the bottom of the front flap, and I rounded the corners on it. The “I just love you” sentiment is from SU Double Line Doodle. The flower is an actual artificial flower cut from a stem and I placed a paper flower in the center with a Queen & Co brad. There is a little rhinestone on the flower center on the pigtailed friend’s dress. The friends are colored with colored pencils. On the first flap on the inside, there is a sentiment from a TAC stamp set, which I cannot remember the name of the set. On the final open of the card, the sentiment stamp is again from TAC. I hope you can read them from the pictures. The sentiments are so good.

Check out Art Gone Wild’s web site: http://www.agwstamps.com/new.htm. Because I ordered a large order, I got a catalog free. Plus, with the catalog they sent along all kinds of leaflets of different stamps. I will be a week going through all the stamps in these books, but I’m so excited. There are some of the cutest stamps in these books. This place will be getting a lot of my husband’s hard earned money, I’m afraid to say. Okay, I will calm myself down from my excitement and just say that I’m so happy to have a little inspiration back today.

Thanks for praying for me! I heard from the doctor today and I’m having an ultrasound in the morning on my upper thigh/hip area. I like that promptness. Well, hope everyone has a wonderful evening, and will stop back! Happy Stamping!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Lack of inspiration but a word from "Paul!"

2008-04-09T23:15:00.001-04:00

I haven’t posted in a while, and I feel so bad about it. I decided that today I am posting, even though I do not have a card or something to post along with my chat. The lack of inspiration has crept upon me. Sitting at my table, staring at all my stamps, inks, embellishments, I just cannot seem to put it on paper. "Brain Fog!" That has to be it . . . "Brain Fog! Do you ever come up against something like this? It is like I have so many ideas, but it is all just floating around in this space, however, I cannot seem to reach anything to pull it out and use it. I feel like screaming!!!!!

My children and I attend Community Bible Study every Wednesday morning. My kids are home-schooled, and this great group caters to home-schoolers. I love that! Anyway, we are studying the book of Ephesians. Often, in church, we have referred to the book of Ephesians in discussing bible lessons, but I have never actually started at the beginning and studied the book. We just finished Mark, which was unbelievable. I absolutely saw it in a whole new light! Too good! Anyway, Paul, of the New Testament, never ceases to amaze me. He is in prison, under house arrest, and he is writing to the Ephesians telling them how to show believers and Gentiles God’s love. Now this man, who truly loved the Lord with his whole heart, has everything in the world to be mad about and he is telling others to show love to others. I was thinking about Ephesians 4, where he is telling them to have humility, gentleness, long-suffering, patience, strive to keep unity within the body of Christ, the church, and bearing with others in love, and telling them it is a worthy life to do these things. Of course, a person really should, but it isn’t as easy as it sounds, is it? I mean, patience? Humility? Who really wants to be humble? You have accomplished something great, and you can’t tell everyone about it? Patience? Yeah! Wait more than 60 seconds in a drive-thru and let’s see your patience. It is the truth, that these are all great qualities to find in a person, and I want to possess them all to the fullest. I have grown in some of these qualities over the years, only by God’s grace, of course. It all comes from knowing Him, reading & studying His Word, and having a relationship with Him. Through Him, I have the patience to deal with the things going on with my health, dealing with tests, and the length between visits. With humility, I will do what I need to do to get better, going through all kinds of different pokes and jabs, I’m sure. I will definitely strive to keep unity in Christ’s Church, the body of believers, and witness to those that are not members, in hopes that they will become members. I will also bear with others in love, try to do all things in love, and in my daily walk do all things with love, because Christ is Love, and I want to show others I have Christ’s love. Now, I need you to pray for me! As you can tell, I’m talking myself into this.

I guess I didn’t really have to say all that, but I was just thinking about my day. My appointment with the urologist is on Friday morning. At least I do not have to wait for weeks! My appointment with the GYN is not until April 23rd. They have not called me about seeing a surgeon or scheduling a test of some kind for my hip, but I should find out in a day or two. I talked with them yesterday, and they were going to get back in touch with me. I’m a sun lover, so if there is any cutting to be done on my hip, I would like to have it done before tanning time! Also, I have a pool and enjoy spending afternoons there in the summer. Okay, let me practice love and self control here. I was thinking about me, me, me again! I always tell my kids that you have to practice "nice." We are born into a sinful world, and it comes naturally for us to be sinful. But, in order to be nice, you have to practice it! Can I get an Amen? Hope your Thursday is a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by, and hopefully I will have something for you to look at next time!
Toota-loo,
Karen

A Big "Hi" for a Friend

2008-04-02T23:06:00.003-04:00

A Big “Hi” for a Friend!

Well, I finally get to post something. I made this card yesterday, but couldn’t decide how to decorate the front of it. My daughter said that the butterflies I wanted to put on the front yesterday were ugly! Don’t you love your children’s honesty? Well, I threw that away and started over. Today, I thought about this. Hope you think more of this one that she did the other one. I love the new felt punch outs I got from Oriental Trading. They come 6 sheets to a package, 2 blue, 2 green & 2 red, I believe. Anyway, I pulled out the blue, since it match this card colors and punched out the whole sheet. Several different designs, a shovel, fence, the word GARDEN, birds, water bucket, flowers, swirls, etc. Really nice! Forgot I had this designer paper from Stampin’ Up. I like it. Don’t quite remember the name, but I think it is something like Dashes & Dots. Something along that line. They don’t carry it anymore. Anyway, this is a standard size card, laid down the corner of the designer paper and cut it off where I wanted it. I then used the zig-zag stamp from CTMH Simple Stitches set & stamped up the edges of the DP. Stamped a saying from SU Curvy Verses set, and placed my flowers were I wanted them, as well as the word “hi!” The letter “h” is an “h” chipboard covered with pumpkin pie CS. I just cut the little “I” out of pumpkin pie only. The flower dot is a Queen & Co plastic flower as is the center of the felt flowers, and the brads are Queen & Co. Fun card, hope you like it!

Okay, received some news today! I called my Mom and said to her, “I got good news & bad news. What do you want to hear first?” She told me she wanted to hear the good news first, of course. I said, “I’m not pregnant!” She laughed and said, “Okay!” She already knew it would be a miracle of God that I would be pregnant due to modern medicine, I will say! Anyway, the bad news is that I have a blockage in my left kidney and a cyst on my left ovary, as well as possible fatty tumor or mass in my right hip. “Is that all?” she asked. Well, I feel pretty good about it all. Taking it well. It was weird, because this morning I was driving to my weekly bible study, and I knew that I had to go to the doctor to find out my results today. I started praying about it, and I knew that there was something wrong. It was one of those things you just know. I figure I know my body better than anyone and there is definitely something wrong. Well, I just ask God to be in the situation and help me be all that I can be for Him. I figured since I just had the ultrasounds on Monday, the doctor would have to call for the results. That wasn’t the case, they faxed them to the office, and the office called my home asking me to come to the office earlier. I showed up at my appointment at 2:15, and didn’t even know that they had called me to come in earlier. The PA was very good at explaining everything that she could. She then said they would set me up with a GYN & Urologist. So, I guess I will know more after I see them. If any of you out there pray, say a little prayer for me! I know God will help me through this, with no doubt. It is mostly the wait and see. I mean waiting for your appointment, wait and see what this physician wants to do, what test results come in, what procedure will have to be done. I have already did the antibiotics, so the next step seems to be a look to see what is happening. I can handle just about anything, or at least I think I can. Keep me in your prayers. Thanks for reading! Hope you have a great day!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Another Challenge - Beate's WSC41

2008-03-30T17:24:00.003-04:00

Okay, I spent the past couple of hours coming up with this card. I know the majority of people would have had it finished in no time, but I’m not like the majority. It is so sad! Anyway, I wanted to use this set the other day. I love people stamps, and I’m not sure why, I just like them. I loved this set when it first came out and had to have it and the accessories. Hope you enjoy the picture. I’ll post the items I used below. I think I looked up most of the colors. Sorry, that I’m so bad about not knowing colors. I feel pretty good most of the time when I get my kids’s names on the first try, and not go down a list. (Some of you are laughing right now, because you can relate to what I’m saying!) I use to think my grandmother didn’t see me often enough to know who I was until my Mom got older and called my sisters by my aunts's names and by my name. Now that I’m older, I totally understand how that happens, though I don’t quite understand the why. Well, so much for that. Anyway, hope you enjoy the card. Have a wonderful day!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Stamps: Girlfriends - Stampin’ Up
Papers: Stampin’ Up Pumpkin Pie, Blue Bayou, Bazzill Bling Blue, White. DCWV textured green.
Markers: Only Orange, Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore
Colored Pencils: Crayola
Embellishments: Darice self adhesive rhinestones; Queen & Co flowers & brads.
Scallop oval punches, oval punch

Blinged Out Baby Buggy

2008-03-28T13:29:00.003-04:00

Okay, I may have blinged this baby buggy way too much, but I thought it was cute! I used the Fun & Fast Notes set from SU, and colored it pink, outlining it with a pink SU marker. I’m not good at color names. I just grab what I think works. Anyway, I used two pink brads as the wheels, with teenie, tiny, black buttons as the center of the wheel. Also, there is a pink heart brad between the poles on the buggy. I have several layers of pink, and again I don’t really know the differences in the colors to tell you which color I used here, although I know there is a piece of dark pink, Bazzill bling paper behind the buggy. I had fun making this card, but (and there are those of you out there that really know me) it took me all evening to make it. I think it is extremely simple as a card, but I think things to death, and I watch TV while I work. Even at stamping events, I do one card to every other persons 3. Don’t really know why I’m so slow. It could be that I enjoy the social part of the get together a little more than the stamping part. Well, I’m working on something else, and hope to get to post again today, which would be something I should do, since I haven’t posted since Tuesday. I want to work on Beate’s Weekend Sketch Challenge. I printed it off this morning, and I’m hoping to get to work on it a little before I go off to meet my girlfriends for a recipe book class and a hostess party all wrapped up into one! I’m sure we will have a good time tonight. Well, enjoy my card! Check back later for a possible addition. Have a great Friday! TGIF!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Tried my hand at a Flap Card - See what you think.

2008-03-25T00:38:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I didn’t get to post on Sunday. I didn’t even get to the craft room on Sunday. I was all congested and my sinuses were a mess from walking store to store, in the wind on Saturday. Two of the ladies did not get to go shopping, but my friend, Barb, and I went. We are shopaholics anyway. We shopped until we literally dropped. Barb is so funny, but you will not believe what she did. We are on our way to Lexington, about an hour out of Ashland, and she goes to hunting for her billfold. She cannot find it, so she calls her husband. Sure enough, she left it laying on the kitchen table. Her husband, John, who is one of the sweetest men I have ever known or even heard about, drives one hour to meet us to bring her billfold to her. Of course, we went to the next exit, where there was a Big Lots, and shopped until he got there. We could not miss out on any shopping. Heaven Forbid! We may have hit some other stores if any others had been open. It was just too early for the others. The rest of the trip was a hit and we had a wonderful time. Bought ourselves lots of goodies, and found some wonderful deals.

I worked a little while in my craft room today, and decided to try the flap card from the Monday SCS Challenge. I had to enlarge it a bit, because the stamp image is large and took up most of the card the other way. I did it on a piece of 12" paper and made it 5" wide. Then, I extended the flap by adding a piece of purple cardstock along a strip of DCWV glitter paper. DCWV brown texture cardstock, vanilla cardstock and Bazzill orange bling are layered behind my image. The stamped image is another Tingle Hearts - Birthday Girl. I colored her with colored pencils and embossed over it with clear embossing powder. I punched a little design on the brown texture paper, and then stamped Happy Birthday Wishes on the right lower corner. The candles are colored dark purple, which is kind of hard to tell, and I used stickles as the flame from the candles. There is a little brad on the point of her birthday hat. Again, I love these stamps, and enjoy coloring them. This was a fun card to make. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’ll come back for another visit soon. Have a great day!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

TGIF

2008-03-21T14:47:00.002-04:00

Finally, I figured out what I wanted to stamp. Isn’t it terrible to have so many stamps that you cannot decide what to stamp when you sit down at the stamping station! I just got my order from Stamping Bella on Monday, and was so excited. I got 5 new stamps, and this image was one of them, although this is Alexa’s bad hair day, and not one of the Bellas. I just had to do this one. I love cutesy stamps, and this one jumped out at me when I was shopping on the site. Her robe is cut from a piece of glitter paper. I just colored her with colored pencils. I used a textured green paper (DCWV) and SU Elegant Eggplant, as well as white cardstock. The other stamp is from SU Girlfriends. Not sure where the ribbon is from, but it worked with the color scheme. Hope you like the card. I’m working on another right now, and hope to get it posted sometime this evening.

Me and my girlfriends (Barb, Vickie and Tessie) are going shopping in Lexington, KY, tomorrow. I love shopping! You will have to check out Vickie’s blog, http://www.stampingeverafter.blogspot.com as well as Tessie’s, http://www.mountaineerstamper.blogspot.com These ladies are so sweet, and so talented. I feel special just knowing them! Hope some of their talent rubs off on me. Okay, hope to get my next card on here this evening. If I don’t, it will be Sunday before I get it on. I’ll be shopping tomorrow!
Have a good afternoon!

Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

You Are One of a Kind - Beate's WSC #39

2008-03-17T01:36:00.005-04:00

What a nice, laid-back Sunday! I love when you can just enjoy the day doing your own thing, and I did. I spent my afternoon in the craft room, watching movies and stamping. This card I made today is for Beate’s Weekend Sketch Challenge. The stamped image is another Tingle Heart Stamp, Enthusiasm. It takes some time to color the hair on these stamps. At least it takes me some time to color the hair on these stamps, is what I should say. Of course, raising my head up to stay on track with the movie didn’t help. Well, I hope that you like the card. I enjoyed working on it. Thanks for dropping by, and I hope you do it again real soon. Have a nice Monday!
Toota-loo,
Karen Linnea

Stamps: Tingle Heart: Enthusiasm SU: One of a kind
Paper: SU Pixie Pink, Pretty in Pink, White & Bazzill Bling Blue
Punches: 1-1/4" & 1-3/8" Circles & Scallop Circle

Little Card Box

2008-03-15T23:43:00.004-04:00

I’m posting a box I made. You are not going to believe where I copied this idea from. View the box, and you may have some idea. Well, I showed this to all my girlfriends last night, when we got together for cardmaking. They were oohing and aahing and I loved that. They could not believe how the 3 x 3 cards fit in the box so good. Well, I will tell you that I copied this from a Kotex lightdays box. I glued two pieces of certainly celery together, with a very small overlap, and unfolded the box to copy it. It fit on the two sheets exactly. After I traced and cut, I decorated the box and made the 3 x 3 cards from scrap papers. So, needless to say there is a little bit of everything. Don’t think I’m real bad silly for copying this box. The first time I opened it, I thought how good it would work for a card box. That is a crafter’s thinking! It is always how we can use some jar or box to make something out of it. I’m sure some of you know exactly what I’m talking about! Well, hope you enjoy the pictures of my little card box. Actually, I hope you get to try it, and get all the compliments that I got from my girlfriends. Have a great weekend! Toota-loo, Karen Linnea

Girlfriends!

2008-03-12T23:27:00.004-04:00

What a busy Wednesday! I’m just glad to be home and able to make my second post. I love the stamp I used on today’s post. It’s from the Suzy Toronto, Tingle Heart series. These are the cutest stamps! I have more! This is just two cards that I made some time back. The stamps remind me of my girlfriends, and how much I love being with them. The green and pink card is 5 x 5 and the blue one is 6 x 6. The stamp is rather large, and so I enlarged the card size. The ladies are colored with colored pencils, and then I clear embossed over the image. I used SU cardstock, and DCWV glitter paper on the green and pink card. There is also a little piece of Bazzill Bling pink cardstock layered behind the image. The blue card is a little bit of everything; not sure I can even name it all. Again, the stamped image is colored with colored pencils and clear embossed. The Tingle Heart stamps are so much fun to color, and I really had so much fun working on the two cards. I have a cute little card box I’m working on and hope to post tomorrow. Please stop back by and check it out. I hope you enjoy the cards, and have a great evening!

Toota-loo,
Karen

First Post!

2008-03-11T19:07:00.004-04:00

Okay, my first post. I have been so nervous about posting. I just want to do a really good job at this. Not sure why it makes me so nervous. It might be because there are so many talented people cardmaking and paper crafting that I’m intimidated by the talent. Not sure, but here it goes.

This card I made for Beates Weekend Challenge. I found it to be a fun challenge and enjoyed working on the card. Most of the products are Stampin’ Up. The checkered yellow paper is Lasting Impressions, and the blue flower brads are Queen & Co. The stamp is from the Sellabrations Merci set. Of course, something you will come to know about me, I love to emboss. So, I clear embossed the flower after coloring it. I clear emboss everything, as you will see from my upcoming posts. Well, I hope you enjoy my card. I enjoyed participating in the weekend challenge #38, and hope to do more in the future. Enjoy your day!

Toota-loo,
Karen