A Fond Farewell

Hi friends!  Today, I'm saying goodbye over at the Paper Made Bakery Blog.  It's been an amazing 6 months and I could not have asked for a better experience!  I wish Shannon, the returning DT, and new design team members an amazing term!  I know they will inspire you!  Please pop over to the PMB blog and leave me some love one last time!  Here's a peek at what you'll see over there!

An Update, BIG NEWS, and Some Chatter

Hi friends!  I can't believe it's been almost a whole week since I last blogged.  Time sure does fly by!  Summer is flying by too.  So...here are some updates on us.

First, if we aren't friends on Facebook, you might not know that I'm pregnant.  I'm just about 18 weeks pregnant and we'll find out the gender of the baby on Aug 21.  Here's a look at the baby from my last ultrasound on June 26.

Second, I am ALMOST done with the Whopping Cough.  Just about 2.5 weeks left.  My cough is only bad at night or first thing in the morning.  I'm still very tired but hopefully, this will be gone and I can get that second trimester burst of energy.

Third, Parker is starting preschool on Thurs.  GASP!  I'm excited but sad too.  He's my baby and I've never had him away from me like this.  I know his teachers and I know that he'll have a great time but my baby is growing up and it's hard.  Brady will start kindergarten on Aug 16 but I'm still in denial on that one.

Lastly, HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR SWAGBUCKS?  Ok, I normally do separate blog posts for Swagbucks but I just don't feel like it this time.  Swagbucks just launched a mobile site so you can earn Swagbucks from your smartphone.  You can check out the tutorial HERE.  You can check out how my previous Swagbucks posts HERE.

I've been doing Swagbucks for just over a year.  In that time, I've managed to get enough Swagbucks that I traded in for gift cards to get myself a couple books, an Xbox Kinnect for my family for Christmas, and the majority of what I needed to buy Brady a Nintendo 3DS for his birthday.  I'm guessing that's been about $350 of stuff I got for FREE by using Swagbucks!

But WAIT, if you want to sign up under MY REFERRAL LINK, Swagbucks has given me a special code since I'm a Swagbucks Blogger.  Upon signing up, enter in code: SBISONTHEGO for an additional 60 Swagbucks!  You get 30 just for signing up, but if you use this code, you'll start with 90!  Please use my referral code if you sign up: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/HeartHugs.

Have a great day, friends!

PMB: Tea for Two Birthday Peek

Hi friends!  I'm blogging on the Paper Made Bakery Blog today using the Tea for Two kit and would love it if you stopped by and left me a comment.  Here's a peek at what you'll see over there.

Book Review: Operation: Endgame

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a wonderful day!  I'm doing ok.  It's just getting really hot around here and I'm so uncomfortable.  But I'm hoping this hot weather will help knock out my cough which seems to pop up more when it's cold out.  Here's hoping!

Today, I have something very different for you.  I'm going to share a book review.  It's a little stamp related because my stampy friend Christi Snow wrote this book.  Christi and another stampy friend Amy C really introduced me to the world of romance novels and I'm so glad they did!  I deal with a lot in my life and it's nice to get swept up in a nice steamy novel.  I also learned that romance novels are smart, well written, well developed, witty, and just plain awesome.  Like every other genre, there are amazing authors and ones that could use improvement.  ;)  But enough chit chat, let's talk about the book.  

I read a lot of romance but not usually Romantic Suspense and the reason I'm going to start reading more is Operation: Endgame.  There was a lovely balance of action and romance.  I loved both the main characters, Jake and Cassie.  They were both strong, well developed, and likable.  The combo of these two was something I found myself rooting for.  I enjoyed the fact that they had a long history that showed that great romance can blossom over time.  I find the whirlwind love stories in most romance novels a little far fetched.  The flashbacks really helped to reveal their story and give us insight into these two awesome characters.  The sex was sizzling, descriptive, and I just wish there was a lot more of it!

The action and suspense in this story really kept me turning the pages.  I was kept guessing and I really love when a book isn't too obvious.  The foreshadowing was so subtle and the attention to detail impressive.  I appreciated the complex villain as well as the likable supporting cast, they added a lot of dimension to this book.  Overall, I found this book extremely well written, the pacing was nice, the characters were well developed, and I really enjoyed that I didn't see the twists coming.  This book left me wanting more and I can't wait for the next book!

Now, that was my HONEST review as an avid reader.  I kept trying to find things in this book I didn't like and my only complaint was I wish there was more sex.  But that's just me.  ;)

Onto the FRIEND part of this post.  There's not much I value more in life than people working hard to fulfill their dreams.  I am so incredibly proud of Christi!  I think it's incredibly inspiring that she's made her dream come true and showed the world her amazing talent.  To find out more about Christi as an author, check out her Christi Snow (Author) Facebook Page.  If you'd like to buy her book, you can do so HERE or you can wait until Sept when the book comes out for E-readers.  I do hope you'll check her out because I think she's doing something really amazing here.

Hello Sunshine

Hi friends!  I hope that you are are well!  We did some errands earlier today and plan on spending the rest of the day inside staying cool!  It's a hot one today!  I'm blogging today over at the My Thoughts Exactly Design Team Blog and thought I would share my creation with you here too.

I made this card to remind you about the awesome My Thoughts Exactly July Challenge we have going on right now which is to create a summery or backyard themed project.  You only have until July 22 at 11:59pm to get your entries in so HURRY!!!  Here's my card that I created with MTE's More Big Thoughts stamp set.  I created a sun with some scraps I had punched out of my Studio Calico Heyday paper because when I think of summer, I think of sunshine.  See how you can apply any of your stamp sets to go with the theme?

Have a great day, friends!

Life is a Journey

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a great day!  I have no idea what we're up to today, there's nothing on the calendar but it's going to be 100 degrees so I'm not sure I'm up to much.  I was up last night coughing again.  This whooping cough really does last the LONGEST time!

Here's a card I made a while ago but never got to blogging it.  I actually just made this card for fun, fancy that!  This card uses Echo Park This and That Graceful and some May Arts burlap string.  I used a punch to create the border on the red paper.  

Have a great day, friends!

PMB: CAS Paper Pieced Pot Peek

Hi friends!  I just wanted to let you know that I'm blogging today on the Paper Made Bakery Blog.  I would love if you would stop by and leave me a comment!  Here's a peek at what you'll see over there!

A Favor Please?

Hi friends!  A quick favor please?  Remember this project from the other day?  Well, today it's up on the May Arts Blog and they are asking which of the projects are your favorites.  If you like my project, can you please hop over there and let them know?  You will be entered to win 3 spools of ribbon just for leaving a comment on THIS POST.  Also, if you could share this with your friends, that would be awesome!  Thanks!!!!  

Wishy Washi Shell-ebrate

Hi friends!  I hope that you are doing well.  Things are ok around here.  We are trying to enjoy our summer but man, it is rough having the kids here by myself ALL the time.  ;)  When are they old enough for summer camp?  

I'm sharing a card today that I'm entering into the Paper Issues Wishy Washi challenge.  I made this for Brady because he loves turtles.  Isn't that adorable?  I think it's because he's shy and quiet like a little turtle.  The image and sentiment are from Paper Smooches.  The grad cap is from Lawn Fawn.  The washi tapes are from Love My Tapes.

Have a great day, friends!

May Arts DT Try Out Round 2

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a fabulous day!  We are enjoying a slightly cooler day here which is wonderful!  We are off to a BBQ tonight which should be great!

For those of you who follow my blog, you might have read that I'm trying out for the May Arts Ribbon Design Team.  I've already made it to Round 2 and today, I'm sharing my round 2 tutorial and project with you.  I've created a video tutorial for a technique I made up called Fishtail Ribbon Technique.  It is inspired by the fishtail braid hairstyle that I used to wear as a girl.

I took my three completed ribbon fishtails (all made with May Arts stitched grosgrain ribbon) and made this canvas.  I wanted the paint to have a very rustic distressed look on the canvas.  I hope that I achieved that.  I spelled out the sentiment with some Thickers, added some flowers, and some rhinestones.

I hope you have a great weekend and please keep your fingers crossed for me!  

Sweet 16

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a great week!  We are really embracing the summer this year!  We've been out doing activities every day this week.  We are taking it easy this morning after staying late at a pizza place last night for dinner with friends.  We have no plans for today so we'll see where that takes us.

Today, I'm sharing a card I made for publication that wasn't picked up aka a reject card.  I actually really like this card.  I made it with a couple Mint Motif stamp sets and some Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic paper.  I think that these papers are really fun and perfect for a teenager.  I added some gems to complete the design.  Now if only I knew someone turning 16...

Have a great day, friends!  

PMB: Nothing is Impossible Peek

Hi friends!  Just wanted a let you know that I'm posting over at the Paper Made Bakery Blog today and I would love if you came over and left me a comment!  Here's a little peek at what you'll see over there:

MTE: Simple Window Card

Hi friends!  I hope you had a great week!  We are doing pretty good over here.  No plans for the weekend but maybe we'll end up doing something fun.  I'm blogging today over on the My Thoughts Exactly DT Blog and I wanted to share my card here as well.  

For my card today, I used My Thoughts Exactly Many Thanks.  I decided to pull out a set of flower dies that I've never used before.  I die cut the flower pieces, embossed them, layered them with foam tape, and then added some Stickles.  Then I grabbed my background paper and cut a label out of it.  I adhered this to my card base using foam tape to create a window.  I placed the flower in the window but it's still pops off the page because it's layered.  Then I added the sentiment right on top of the background.

Have a great weekend friends!

PS!!!  Don't forget to enter our My Thoughts Exactly July Challenge!  You can enter to win a STAMP BUNDLE and become a guest designer!  Another person will win a gift card and EVERYONE gets a coupon to the store!  It's a win/win!

U Rule!

Hi friends!  I hope that you are doing well.  I'm ok.  I was up last night coughing and throwing up but other than that, I'm ok.  :)  Honestly, with what the last few months have been like, this is a walk in the park.

Yesterday, we had the BEST Fourth of July ever!  Normally, we don't do much for the 4th but this year we did a couple things and it was really fun!  We went to breakfast as a family, then hung out at home for a little bit, then we went to a BBQ with some friends, and then we went to the community park to see the big fireworks show.  It was GREAT!  Parker went swimming for the first time.  It was both kids's first time to see "sky fireworks."  It really was just a wonderful day!

Today, I'm sharing some cards I made for Brady's teachers for the end of school.  His last day was just June 29, so I made these last week.  I made these using some Imaginisce Geek is Chic papers.  I love this line!  I think it's soooo cute!  I have the whole line and I've been hoarding it.  I figured it was time to start using it.  

Have a great day, friends!  

PMB: Tea Party Card Sneak Peek

Hi friends!  I'm blogging today on the Paper Made Bakery blog and would love if you hopped over and left a comment.  Here's a peek at what you'll see over there.

Paper Made Bakery July Release Hop (Giveaway)

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a wonderful day!  Can you believe that it's already July?!?  I can't!  This year is flying by!

Today is release day for Paper Made Bakery!  Please head over to the Paper Made Bakery Blog to start the hop.  If you are here from Lisa's Blog then you are in the right place.

There's a brand new kit called Tea for Two and it's gorgeous!  Just look at all the lovely things you get in this kit.  There's a Cosmo Cricket paper pad, sticker sheet, and element pack!  There's a stamp set from Sweet Stamp Shop which hasn't even been released on their website yet!  And tons of embellishments.  You need to get your kit QUICK because it's going to sell out FAST!

We are introducing the kit with a blog hop!  Hop along to all the design team members for inspiration!  Don't forget to enter the giveaway by using the Rafflecopter!  There's an amazing prize pack this month.

Here's my card for today's release.  All the elements are from the Tea for Two kit.  I just added ink and glue.  The elements from this kit makes crafting so easy!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm the last designer on today's hop.  Head back over to Paper Made Bakery and pick up your kit before it's GONE!