Lily Comes Home

Saturday, November 28th 2009, Lily finally came home from Children's Hospital after an almost 4 month stay.  She will be on oxygen for a few weeks to months until her lungs finish maturing and my daughter will keep her NG tube in until the doctor is satisfied that she is taking in enough nutrition on her own but since she eats quite well when Mom is feeding her, we thing that will come out for good by the end of the week.  She is starting to get baby chubby, cute and loves being rocked and talked to.  The noise at home doesn't bother her in the least and she seems to really be drawn to her brothers voice and face which is good because her brother isn't a bit quiet around her.

So, without further ado, a short clip of Lily!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30HRZCXPSTQ

Homemade Template Time

I love Lauren Meader's template creating ability.  She can work paper into 3D like no other gal I've seen.  This is a task that is supposed to be more difficult for females than males but she proves the scale is a sliding one.  She really outdid herself with the PTI release this month on Nov. 15th.  On Nov. 20th (today), she announced she was leaving PTI and entering into business for herself.  I will certainly remain a loyal customer of both Lauren and PTI.

My first picture is using Enchanted Evening and craft PTI papers.  I found the cute, small scale silver beads at Walmart and the snowflake popping out the chimney is an oldie from EK Success punch.  The stamp set is the new PTI Homemade and is unbelievably cute with several window and door stamps to choose from. Ribbon is from old stash of Offray's sheer line.  Offray doesn't even list the name on the ribbon!  Oh well, I try.

The second one is CASEd from Nichole's blog here.  I found the MS punch at Walmart for $9.00 and couldn't resist copying the garland look.  I used Srping Moss and New Leaf, I think.  I really need to separate and label my paper colors so I can make sure I list things correctly.  Old habits die hard.  I never posted any of my stuff before so never really kept an account of what was what.  Friends that received my cards never asked if it was New Leaf or Ripe Avacado! ;-)

I do love the way it came out.  I popped the windows and doors on this one and decorated all 4 sides, at least a little.  I like how popping the elements gives them more depth.  The garland is adorable and very easy with a punch.  I even made a small wreath for the side with some glitter domes from Paperwishes.com.  Michaels has the Christams Village items on sale this week, 30% off and I'm going to pick up some evergreen trees, maybe a deer or kids and make my own little village.  Of course, I'll need to include a synogogue and a Hannukah House!  Fun stuff!

Well, have any of you PTI fans made one yet?  What do you think?

CASE'd from Lauren's Blog..

I CASE'd Laurens Family Tree!
I was very impressed with Lauren Meader's family tree project (here) and the sweet story that went with it but I really had no intention of doing one.  Then I went to Joann's last Sunday and went down the floral isle (which I never do). Next thing I know, there is that wire "tree" frame right in front of me for a whopping $2.79.  I thought, what the heck... I'll buy one and maybe, just maybe make one, too.  So, now, three days later, I not only started it, I finished it.  I'm not entirely pleased with it.  I need to make sure the pictures quit turning funny.  I need to tack them down a bit better.  I have a larger family than Lauren's so I have more pictures but I think I still need a few more embellies to balance it, yet, I don't want it to get overly busy.  I wish I had made all the bows the same, too.  Still, overall, I certainly don't hate it. I just want it to be a bit better.

So, what do you think?  If anyone has suggestions, please feel free.  I am so very open to critism and won't be offended, I'll be appreciative!  Honest!

I wish I could find that wonderful red/hot pink bird that Lauren used, too.  This was the best I could do but I am still on the lookout!  This really will be changed at some point.

 

 I love the Gingerbread Boy. I had to give him a scarf.  Hey, it's cold in Colorado!

Card Sets

For Christmas gifts this year, I plan on making some card sets for friends that enjoy my cards.  I do believe they will be suprised and pleased with them.  Who doesn't need a Thank You card?  I am so loving the Take Note set from PTI and it is so easy to make a special looking card with it.

All cardstock, stamps and ribbon is PTI.  Pattern paper is a half sheet I had hanging around for a while.

I even embellied some of the dots with the clear bubble stickers from PTI.

Here is the inside:

So, what do you think?

Wall Art for Jack

I bought these letters for decorating Jack's room a little bit ago.  Finally, I got around to painting and decorating them.  I bought an inexpensive 6 pack of acrylic paint that had the primary colors, green, black and white.  I knew I was going to do his letters in the basic colors so I completed it first.  I have letters for Lily, too, which I will have to blend the colors to get the pink, purple and lavender that I want.

I have a ton of stickers and still tend to pick up a pack or 2 when on sale.  Using stickers and a few match box cars and 1 stop sign from his train set, I decorated them.  I think they will be cute as can be on his wall, as well as helping him learn his name.  The hard part is getting him to leave them alone.  The cars are NOT to be played with.  Since he is 4 yo now, I think he has enough self restraint to do so.

Finished the Set

I wanted to finish up my re-purposing of the acrylic box that my PTI stamps came in.  I now have a matching pen!  Though the pictures show some Christmas cards inside, (it will eventually hold Thank You Notes) they are standard A2 cards and I wanted to see how they would fit.  Unless they are excessively over embellished, they will easily fit 4 cards and envelopes, more if you stuff it a bit.  I then had extra room at the top half of the box.  I cut a piece of patterned paper to fit the width (6 1/8th ") and 3" wide.and scored 2 times at 1" and 2" (even thirds).  I then folded it and placed in top to be my divider and pen holder. 

The pen is an RSVP by Pentel purchased at any office supply store.  I cut a strip of paper 3" long and 7/8" wide.  I then removed the ink assembly from the pen and used it to gently roll the paper until it was able to be inserted into the pen.  Cute and very easy.  Hope you enjoy the pictures!

November? Already?

Decided to get busy with some serious cardmaking. All cardstock and ink is PTI and the pattern paper is a single sheet (bought at M's) but the stamps are from SU or other acrylics that I don't even remember buying, much less from who!  I think I am falling in love with the old fashion look.  I especially like adding the little flowers and pearl strands, picked up at M's for cheap!  Can you say coupons!