My "family tree" and a card from a friend :)

Here is a "family tree" I made this past week. This is a gift for my Mom. It has a few pictures on it already and will eventually have pictures of both my Mom and Step Dad, myself and my two brothers and all three grandkids. (the pic of me is on the bottom right - 3 yrs old).. The other two visable pictures are of my nieces.
I really enjoyed this little project and think my Mom will really love it :)

And here is the CUTEST card I've ever received from my friend Michelle in NC. She actually draws her own designs. Isn't he cute!!
Thank you, sweetie :)
That was an unexpected surprise.

I have recently ordered the Sass Lass Bungle Jungle line as well as some of the papers from the Bo Bunny It's My Party line. I should get those from ACOT by mid-week and should have some LO's to show you by the end of the weekend :) WHOO HOO!

Have a great rest of the weekend, everyone!

WHOO HOO!!!!

I took that crappy Craft-Lite cutter back to Big Lots tonight and the Making Memories album I had put back was still there. WHOO HOO!!! So I snatched it up along with a few packs of the American Crafts rubons for my buddy in Texas.
I have a client that wants an 8x8 album done of her trip to Paris and this will be perfect!
YAY for Big Lots!!!!!

Check out this blog candy!!

Check out Marlene's fabulous blog!!
She's got some yummy Stampin' Up! stamps :)

Craft-Lite Cutter

The one I bought today sucks.
I don't recommend them for scrapbooking/cardmaking, at all.

Two of the blades, Zig Zag and Wavy, are the exact same. I have matched them up over and over and yes, it's true. I don't know if it's just MY cutter blades or the ones that were sent to Big Lots or what but, I got bad ones.
And the "Stamp" blade doesn't cut the shape pictured on the box (or the actual blade, for that matter). So I thought "okay, well maybe I'll just email the company and get replacement blades".
But then I realized the backlight, the feature the cutter is known for, is a joke. The light doesn't show through Bazzill or DCWV cardstock at all (I tested it on several sheets, various colors.
So, there's no point in me keeping it and I'm going to take it back and maybe get a few of those things I left behind, tee hee.

Anyway, just an FYI.
Again, maybe I got a bad one.
Just sayin'...

My Big Lots finds...

Well, I finally made it to Big Lots! WHOO HOO!!!
Some of you know I was headed there yesterday afternoon with a 20% off friends and family event coupon but then Doug had to take an unexpected trip to the ER (he's FINE).
So I went today.. And got some GREAT deals!!

Here are a few things I bought:

Making Memories 5th Avenue 8x8 Project Pad - 36 sheets of paper, alpha/number stickers and much more. $3.00 (same thing is $17.99 at Target right now)
They also had the matching album that goes with this. It was super cute but I put it back. It was $5.00.

Craft-Lite Cutter - $10.
I had seen this on QVC last week and wanted it for the scallop and folding feature. It was double the price there (plus shipping)so, I got a good deal at BL :)



American Crafts Remarks - three of these are still being sold on 2Peas for $8 each. I got these for $2 each. There were others, too but, I had to pass them up this time.

I got these in white:

I got these in black:


Gallery J 12" Family Tree kit. Made of chipboard.. My Mom is going to love this! It's not as bright as it is in this picture. It's really very cute.

They had a ton of other stuff. Lots of new American Crafts ribbon, cool fiber (I'm not a fan of fiber but I actually liked the kind BL had), Heidi Grace and Cloud 9 stuff. Other MM stuff, some BG (not alot left) and misc.
I really did good and put alot of stuff back. YAY me!! tee hee

Anyhoo, you might check your BL out.. They've got great, CHEAP stuff!

Have a great night!

Any advice?

Here's a picture I took of Caleb today with my cell phone. This is Caleb looking directly at my cell phone and notice, his left eye is "crossed".
Doug started noticing him doing this about two months ago but didn't say anything to me until Katy, Caleb's speech therapist, noticed it too. He thought he was imagining it because I had never commented about it. I had never noticed it. In all the pictures I've taken of Caleb, there isn't a single one where his eye is crossed and of course, since I'm the one normally reading to him with him in my lap, I never noticed him doing it.
I guess it's only something he does when he's reading or looking at something up close and, it's gotten worse.. He's doing it quite abit now.. Especially when he's tired (this pic was taken right before nap).
Well, we are worried so we are going to take him to a Pediatric Ophthamalogist next month.
From what I've read, lazy eye or farsightedness has been known to suddenly occur in two and three year olds since that's when they really start getting into "reading" books.
Depending on the severity of it, Caleb could just need therapy, or a patch or glasses or, even surgery.
Does anyone out there have a child that has had this problem? Can you tell me your story and what route was taken to fix the eye?
TIA!

ETA: Thanks for the info Michelle, Carli and Zoa.. It was very helpful.

Mimi's Mini Album

Here's a little album I made Doug's Mom about her trip to see us last Fall. It's just a simple 4x4 album with acrylic cover/back. I used my Bind It All on this.. Love it!!
It's not the cutest album I've done but, I'm very proud of myself for finally FINISHING a mini album! I've started SEVERAL, just never finish them, LOL.
All paper is October Afternoon. I used lots of flowers, bling and tons of Making Memories tiny alphas. I love those things!

January PICK OF THE MONTH!!!

Earlier this month I was awarded the January "Pick of the Month" over on Moments to Remember.

Thank you SO much to the DT for picking my layout and Ching for the fabulous charm for my bracelet. Y'all ROCK!!

Here's the two page Layout I won for:

How cool is THAT!! Thank you so much, M2R!!

Blog Candy and the coolest thing!

Check out Ching's blog for some awesome Mark's Paper Company blog candy!

And guess what Caleb just said a few times?
JESUS!!!
I was praying for him outloud as I was changing his 5th poopie diaper of the day. (he has horrible diaper rash now.. poor buddy) and he said JESUS!!
How cool is that!!!
He is pretty sick now.. Stomach bug.
Please send a prayer his way :)

Two More New Cards using Core'dinations Cardstock

This is my fave. I sanded black Core'dinations cardstock to reveal the yellow underneath then ran it through my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots embossing folder. Love it!
You can get the Core'dinations paper at Hobby Lobby. They come in packs of 20 sheets for $9.99 but you can get them half off when HL has their paper sale ;)


This one uses a tag from a swap I did last Summer (I altered the tag to fit my needs).
No name on back, not sure who made it, sorry.



I am feeling much better today. Thanks for all your emails and comments.
Caleb has been saying all kinds of new words lately. The latest is "CHICKEN", "SAUSAGE", "FRIES" (his three favorite foods), "PEAS", "SPRING", "SUMMER", "AUM" (aka Autumn), "WINTER", "STOP IT!" and "GO AWAY!" (yikes!)
His little voice is music to my ears :)

Have a great day!

Okay, so I must admit, this is very very tempting. Especially with those three monthly payments.
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.F05189.desc.Slice-Electronic-Die-cut-Machine-wDesign-CardBlades-amp;-Mats

But Doug would kill me so, I'm resisting *sigh*

What is it about the Slice that I am drawn to?
I have a Cricut Expression already.. With Design Studio and SCAL.. Why do I need another diecut machine?
Hmmmm... Weird.
Must be the portability. I could take it to my monthly crops.
Or maybe it's just that I am so sick and dehydrated, I'm starting to get delirious.

Do any of you have this and love it? Hate it?
If anyone reading this has the Slice, tell me about it.
And send some love and hugs my way. I'm sick of feeling icky.


ETA: THIS SOLD OUT.. THANK GOD. I TOOK THAT AS A SIGN IT'S NOT SOMETHING I *NEED*, LOL.

A New Card Using Chloe's Closet

Have I mentioned how much I love this line? LOL

I just went to my buddy Jennifer's blog and saw all these blog candy giveaways. Who doesn't love free stuff? So, check them out :)

Check out this AWESOME BLOG CANDY from Bev!!

And THIS ONE from Steph! Yummy!!!

And THIS ONE from Rachel who is giving away some Martha Stewart border punches!!

And Bridgette is giving away a blog candy full of LOVE.. Go HERE.

I hope someone I know wins!
Have a great night!

You could win some Chloe's Closet!

I was searching the web for Chloe's Closet and found an awesome blog I'd never seen before.. This chic's work ROCKS!
She's having an awesome giveaway and of course, it caught my eye.. Because the prize is.. CHLOE'S CLOSET goodies!!
Check it out!

A New Card :)

Here's a little card using the Cloud 9 Design "Be Loved" line that I received from Fiskars. Love it!!!
I also used some little pearls that my friend Heidi sent me.. She ROCKS!!
I think I might make a few more cards tonight and a LO using this line.
TFL!

ETA: I have some extra paper from this line and will be RAK'ing it SOON (hint hint).

My Two Valentines...

"Okay Mom, No more pictures!!"


Daddy & Caleb last night (eating Caleb's favorite - Papa Murphy's pizza!)

My new favorite line...

Have you seen the new Chloe's Closet line by Making Memories?
I guess it's EXCLUSIVE to MICHAELS stores only.
I'm not finding many pics online but above are a few.

Here is an eBay listing of most of the line. YUM! http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Chloes-Closet-12x12-Scrapbook-Paper-Set-Stickers_W0QQitemZ180328211350QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item180328211350&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

One of my awesome friends made me a "kit" of various 6x6 papers, ribbon and brads that I received on Wednesday and I was just blown away at how attracted to it I am. The colors are orangy peach, green, off white and blue.. Perfect for boy or girl. There are cute birdies, flowers and the diecut paper is to die for.
So what did I ask Doug to get me for Valentines Day?
You got it! MORE Chloe's Closet stuff :)
He was awesome and while I was spending time with my BFF yesterday, he went to Michaels in Indianapolis and bought me the 12x12 specialty paper, ribbon, canvas alphas and 8x8 diecut paper stack (which, btw, is 25% off right now).
He also gave me money to buy some other CC embellies on eBay.. I got them for DIRT CHEAP.. Alot cheaper than buying them at Michaels :)
Have I told you lately how supportive Doug is and what an awesome hubby he is? Um.. yeah. He ROCKS! (and he's an AWESOME Daddy, too)
So once I get the rest of my embellies, I'm going to go to town making lots of great Spring LO's using this line.

If you haven't seen it yet, run to M's and take a look, it won't last long.. I bet it will sell out pretty soon.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, EVERYONE!!