Show Me Your Birthday Cards! @ MelJens Designs

Happy Thursday everyone!! Tomorrow, Kevin and I head into Atlanta for his Biometrics appointment. I believe it is going in to get his fingerprints and photos. I believe that is all, but I'm not 100% sure. So, today is my last day of work this week Woot!! And we are on our way with the Immigration appointments! This one is our first and hopefully everything will go quickly and smoothly.

Okay... on to our challenge this week at Meljens Designs! This week is Challenge #154: Happy Birthday.

I used Meljen Designs - Birthday Cake Mouse --- How adorable is he!! I had fun coloring this image and I popped the top of the cake and the bottom frosting ring. I colored everything with Copic. I used some stickles - blue, green, purple and crystal. I also used some puff paint for some detailing. I used a small piece of blue lace and the papers are from Bo Bunny. I used two stamps - Happy Birthday on the front is from Jaded Blossom (Make A Wish) and the inside is from Creative Vision (Sassy Happy Birthday II). I also added some stitching on the front.

Copic:
E23, E25, E27, E29
Y13, Y15, Y17
R43, R46
YG01, YG06, YG09
BG01, BG05, BG07
V12, V15, V17

Challenges:

• Challenge #110: Sketch @ Sketch N Stash.
• R #117: Cute As You Like @ Crafts 4 Eternity.
• Copic/Promarker Challenge: Anything Goes @ The Outlawz.
• Challenge #73: Make It Cute @ A Gem Of A Challenge.
• Challenge #26: Cute @ Glitter n Sparkle Challenge Blog.
• HIMCR #91: Freestyle @ Hiding In My Craft Room.
• Challenge #165: Use 2 Different Patterned Papers @ Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog.
• MIM #134 @ Make It Monday.
• Anything Goes @ Blessings Ink.
• Challenge #148: Anything Goes @ MyGrafico Challenges
• Anything Goes @ Simon Says Stamp & Show.
• Challenge #82: Anything Goes @ The Paper Makeup Stamps Blog.
• TTCRD Challenge April 2-8: Anything Goes @ Through The Craftroom Door.
• Challenge #46: Anything Goes @ Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog.
• Anything Goes @ Papertake Weekly Challenges.
• Challenge #57: Stitch It! Real or Faux Stitching @ Whimsy Stamps Challenge Blog.
• Challenge #34: Animals @ Simply Create Too.
• Challenge #17: Anything Goes @ Challenges 4 Everybody.
• Challenge #5: Anything Goes @ Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog.
• DICC #51: Birthday, Stickles, Lots of Color, Candles, Sentiment @ Desert Islands Crafters Challenge.
• Challenge #4: Anything Goes @ Fairies Challenge Blog
• April: Anything Goes @ Mema's Crafts.
• April Challenge: Let's Celebrate @ The Crafting Cafe.
• Challenge #8: Anything Goes @ Pin & Tack Handcrafted Delights.
• April Anything Goes {With A Twist} of Stitching @ Sandy's Crafty Creations.
• Cheryl's Challenge Group: Challenge #18: Use Patterned Papers (at least 2) @ Sketches For All
• April Challenge: Use A Digital Image @ Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge.
• Challenge #10: Anything Goes @ The Crafty Bloggers Network.
• Challenge #10: Anything Goes @ V's Sweet Ideas.
• Anything Goes Challenge Room: Anything Goes @ Crafter's Digital Art Center
• It's All About Animals @ Crafting By Design.
• Challenge #14: Anything Goes @ Tsunami Rose Designs.
• Challenge #74: Anything Goes @ Word Art Wednesday.
• Day #63: You Take The Cake @ 365 Cards. 

Its been a week!! I hope you all have had a good week!! Monday I had to work in a different building and away from my desk. It really is hard working away from your stuff! And the CIO kept me there late.. gotta love that on a Monday LOL  That's alright! At least it was over. Tuesday I spent catching up on everything that was left on my desk from Monday. It was a productive day, but I haven't been able to get much crafting done and that stinks! And then Wednesday -- I spent the day working and working some more... Oh! and working more!! LOL And then I got down to coloring and then it was time for bed. Oh how there are not enough hours in the day for me to play!! LOL I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!!!!

Happy Christmas Eve Eve - Crafting When We Can

Happy Christmas Eves Eve everyone :)  I'm just now trying to get back to a normal routine!! I've been super busy :)  And now I have a moment and can share :)  But First!!! We have a new Challenge beginning over at Crafting When We Can this week!! Our theme this week is a Sketch!

 

I had the great pleasure of working with Amalia's Christmas Present from Dilly Bean Stamps! Megan is an amazing artist.. don't you agree?  I colored the image with copic. I have lost my list of colors!! And my desk is such a mess I'm not surprised.. And well.. Kevin enjoys telling me I have the messiest place in the apartment LOL!! I can't help it!  Anyway... back to my card. 

I really hate that I have lost my list... I write everything down as I use it LOL  Okay.. I'll do my best. I know I used my favorites R22, R24, R27, R29 for the red. I used Crystal Transparent Glitter from The Art Glittering System. I popped her several times in several areas. The sentiment is from TLC Creation. There are tons of great sentiments there. The papers are all scraps from other cards I've made and I can't remember what companies the papers are from. The gems are from my stash. Now, it's your turn! I can't wait to see what you do with this awesome sketch!!

Challenges:

• Challenge #104: Anything Goes For Christmas @ Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
• Christmas Challenge @ Di's Digi Designs
• Challenge 210: A Christmas Carol (Pretty Paper) @ One Stop Craft Challenge
• Twisted Thursday Challenge: Anything Goes w/Child Christmas @ The Outlawz
• Challenge #29: Anything Goes @ ATC's and Cards with Attitude
• Challenge #54: Christmas @ Card Crafter's Circle
• It's The Holidays @ Card Makin Mamas
• R #103: Anything Goes @ Crafts 4 Eternity
• Challenge #29: Anything Goes @ Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude
• JAI 148: Just Add Christmas @ Just Add Ink
• Ch #51: December Celebrations @ Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges
• Challenge #19: Let It Shine @ QKR Stampede
• Challenge 24: Anything Goes @ Stampin' For The Weekend

So, Kevin arrived in the USA on December 12th!! He got here in Georgia on December 12th in the evening! The kids and I picked him up at the airport. We stopped and had some dinner and then came home. He loves Chickfila and couldn't wait to stop for a sandwich LOL So, that is what we did. He was pretty worn out... we visited for a while and then headed to bed. I had to work in the morning, so I got up and headed in. I did NOT want to be at work LOL I left a bit early and came home. I had taken Friday off. Friday morning we went and got a marriage license and then Friday evening we went back to the court house with all three of my children and got married. So!! After all of our waiting we are now Husband and Wife :)  And I couldn't be more happy!! We didn't go anywhere because I had to work, but we have enjoyed our time together. I haven't been on the pc too much. I'm just starting to get back to my normal routine. I feel all out of sorts. So, there you have it LOL I've been a bit busy between getting married and Christmas! And I miss all the blogs! I'm trying to get caught up a bit.

Alright... we are off to church soon. I will talk to you all again very soon! I hope you have a wonderful day .. Almost Christmas!!! Merry Christmas everyone!!! 

Crafting When We Can - Bingo

Good morning everyone!! It's time for another challenge at Crafting When We Can... We are on Challenge #33 and our theme this week is a BINGO card!!! I hope you enjoy this challenge as much as I did!! Our sponsor this week is MilkCoffee. On the Bingo Card  I used Dots, Orange, Clean and Simple.

This is colored with both Copic and Prismacolor pencils. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The image is Madeline and Neapolitan Ice Cream from MilkCoffee. I used orange rhinestones and Candi - Icing Sugar.. which I colored orange with my Copic YR18 and YR16. Thats it... I colored the ice cream cone mint chocolate chip LOL Because it's my favorite!

Challenges:

• Challenge #18: Anything Goes @ Artistic Inspirations
• Challenge #73: Anything Goes @ Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges
• TPE177: Make It Girly @ The Pink Elephant
• Time To Emboss @ The Sisterhood of Crafters 
• Challenge #57: Anything Goes @ Word Art Wednesday 
• Challenge 28: Anything Goes @ ATC's with Attitude 
• Challenge 28: Anything Goes @ Fat Pages with Attitude
• Challenge #6: Anything With A Digi @ Avadares Challenges 
• December Challenge: Anything Goes @ Mema's Crafts 
• Challenge #4: Anything Goes @ Pin & Tack

I am so behind on everything. This past week was full of everything between Christmas and Immigration.

When I last posted Kevin was about to head to his interview. His interview was last Tuesday at the American Consulate in Sydney. He was only in there for a couple of hours and we had our approval. His plane didn't fly out until that evening, so he had a day to waste in Sydney. Then he hopped on a plane back to Brisbane. They had told him it would take about 5 business days to get his Visa and they had given him a tracking number. We weren't going to book a flight until we had that Visa in his hand. So, he hopped on his bike and was SUPPOSE to get a hotel/motel, but no.. the man rode all the way home IN THE DARK! Where there are tons of kangaroos and he knows better. He made it home safe and sound and now the waiting begins. Now its Tuesday evening. Wednesday and Thursday he starts to prepare what he needs to do to finish up there. We get off Skype on my Thursday morning ... his Thursday evening and I headed to work. I saw an email from Sydney and they had sent the paperwork out!! It was only suppose to take a day, but they mailed it late so it wasn't going to get there on Friday. We didn't think he would have it in his hands until Monday at this point, but we knew it was on the way. He booked the flight for this Wednesday. He went by the post office on Saturday morning and they had the package. He sold the caravan, sold the bike and he left Clifton Saturday evening. I can't believe how quick everything has gone. He flies out in 3 days!!!

On top of all that I have five adopted families that I had to get Christmas for. Three of the families were adopted by my office. I collected gifts and money for these three families. Each family had three children. I collected over $1K for these three families and then my sister came down and we went shopping. I tried really hard to get what was on their wish lists. One family was adopted by my family, my sister and my mother. The last two families were not adopted and I told the church I would help shop and get Christmas done for them. That was five families that I had to coordinate and shop for. Then I had to wrap all the gifts and deliver them yesterday!! I spent the entire day wrapping gifts and delivering. I don't regret a thing though.. It was really great to be able to do that for those families.

Also last week, Bailey had her first Orchestra concert. That was on Thursday evening. It was the 6th graders, then the 7th graders and finally the 8th graders. It was amazing to see how each class improved as they learned more and had more difficult music to play. It was a great concert.

I have also had an extremely week at work, have had to coordinate Christmas parties there and ... well!! I'm just exhausted and behind in all of my DT responsibilities!! In fact.. I have to get a card done tonight and I haven't even had time to start on it.

So to wrap all that up LOL I've been super busy and Kevin will be here on Wednesday and I'm getting married on Friday!!!  Woot!! :)  Now we are off to church at 9:30 am and then the Children's Christmas Musical at 10:30 am. All of the Christmas families are invited to church as well!! It will be a busy day LOL Hope you all have a wonderful day!!!!

OSAAT - Anything Goes!

Happy Sunday everyone!! Today is church day! We start the Christmas theme today with "What Child Is This". I love Christmas and I'm looking forward to spending time at church learning! And we have musicals this month - children's and adults; it should be fun!!

On to this week's One Stitch At A Time Challenge! Our theme for this week is the ever popular Anything Goes!! Here is my card:

I used Ankhi - My Heart Pieces at Stitchy Bear Stamps. This wasn't meant to be a Christmas Image, but I made it one. I colored the little birds like Cardinals. and colored her in Christmas greens and reds with her dress a nice yellow. I added the peppermint ribbon with a yellow gemmed star charm. I added the green pearls that matched her eyes. The Season's Greetings was a stamp from Inkadinkadoo. I stamped it with ColorBox Scarlet ink. The papers are Bo Bunny Mistletoe papers. I used Copic markers to color the image.

Dress: Y02, Y06, Y08
Eyes: YG21, YG25
Green: G00, G17, G19
Skin: E000, E00, E01, E11, R20
Lips: R20, R22
Hair: E71, E74, E77, E79
Birds: 100, R24, R27, R29, YR09
Flowers: R22, R24, R27, R29, G00, G17, G19

Challenges:

• Challenge #53: Use Traditional Christmas Colors @ Whimsy Stamps 
• Challenge 93: Christmas @ Wags 'n Whiskers 
• Challenge #44: Christmastime @ Addicted To Stamps
• #188: Girly @ Digital Tuesday 
• Challenge No 31: Favourite Technique (decoupage) @ LEJ Designs 
• Girly Cards @ Paper Pretties 
• PTT #96: Anything Goes @ Party Time Tuesdays 
• Challenge: Merry Christmas @ Scrap-Creations 
• Challenge #42: Anything Goes @ Tuesday Alchemy 
• Challenge #112: Ribbon or Trim @ Crafts and Me 
• 3 of Something or The Number 3 (3 Pearls) @ Fab 'n' Funky 
•  Challenge #92: Christmas Is Coming @ The Paper Shelter
• Challenge #56: Anything Goes @ Word Art Wednesday
• Anything Goes @ Crafty Boots Challenges
• Challenge 79: Christmas @ Lexi's Creations
• Challenge #163: Anything Goes @ The Corrosive Challenge
• Challenge #141: Anything Goes @ My Grafico

I can't wait to see what all your wonderful creations are!! Anything Goes is always a popular theme LOL!! Have fun creating! And have a wonderful rest of your day/night!!! Thanks for visiting.. You guys are WONDERFUL!!! And very much appreciated!!

This has been an extremely long week... work was really busy, although at the end of the week I felt good because my desk was clear and I feel like I got a ton done. This week will be about the same! Hopefully I will be able to get done everything that needs to be done.

Saturday Michael, Bailey and I headed to the church were we packed up the rest of the clothes that were there and got them to the MUST Ministries close by. It took us three trips and a few hours, but everyone felt good about doing it. It was a good day. Michael really worked hard to help. I'm really glad we are able to help out with things like that. It was a good day. I got really tired at the end of the day though and headed to bed early. Now I'm sore.. I think I slept too much!

This week will be a busy week at work and I Bailey has her very first Orchestra Concert on Thursday. Kevin leaves out tomorrow.. or tonight LOL, his tomorrow morning and heads to the airport to fly to Sydney. He will stay in Sydney overnight and head to the Consulate on Tuesday morning for his interview!!! I can't believe we are finally there.. at the interview!! Say a little prayer for us. I'm so nervous and excited.. I know he is feeling anxious.

Have a wonderful day / evening everyone!!!! Be sure to check out a Giveaway at  Punk 'n' Scraps!!  
Blog Candy Again @ Punk 'n' Scrap

Turkeys, Pies and Cocoa - A Plethera of Cards

I LOVE Fall!!! Especially when it is like this year has been. I have enjoyed the awesome weather and the change it colors has been extraordinary this year. I love the cool air and being able to open up the doors and windows!! My favorite time of year!

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend!! Kevin is still nursing a bad ankle.. its still swollen and painful. I'm hoping he can get back into the doctor today. We need to get him all fixed up. It is only about  three weeks until he heads down to Sydney to the Consulate!! Wow!! Putting that in writing just .. wow!! We are almost there!! I'm so excited!!!

What else... I took a couple of days off work last week. I worked on these cards.. and did some volunteer work for church. I took a HUGE load of clothes to a consignment store for them. The consignment store uses the money it makes to fund the home for girls that have been found in the sex trafficking industry. I had no idea that Atlanta had such a huge sex trafficking problem. And these are just girls.. young teenage girls that are getting taken and forced into this. It is so sad. Good stories come out of WellSpring though. Stories of girls reunited with families and off the street and making something of themselves.

We adopted a family for Christmas at church today. My mother and my sister are going to help. It is one little boy. He is 12 years old and we will hopefully be able to give him a nice Christmas. I also adopted three larger families for work. Each additional family has three kids each. We are a large group, so we should be able to give these kids a nice Christmas. I'm very excited.. and I'm excited that my Director's agreed to do this. 

Let's see... I've been working on some cards for my DT's, but there were a few that didn't work out or I did a different card. So, here are those three LOL

This is my Grateful card.. I was going to use it for the upcoming MelJen's Challenge.. Orange and Brown. It didn't work out though.. I added a lot more different colors LOL So I did a different card for that. I used MelJen's Pumpkin Pie Slice. I also used Walnut Stain Distress Ink, Adirondack Color Wash - Butterscotch, Tattered Angel Glimmer Mists - Tattered Leather, Cranberry Zing, Gold, Bronze, Stickles Orange Peel and Yellow and Frosted Lace .. I need a new Orange Peel.. I don't know what the heck is wrong with that one... but it is frustrating and won't come out right LOL, Bo Bunny brads and gems and Scribbles 3D Paint - Christmas Green and Black, Spellbinders Rectangles. The papers are all Bo Bunny Apple Cider and Bazzill Cardstock.
Copic:
E41, E11, E13, E21
YR01, YR14, YR18
E21, E27, E29
R39, R59, R89
B21, B24, B28, B29
Y32, Y35, Y38

Challenge:

• Challenge #90: Sketch @ Die Cuttin Divas
• Challenge #149 @ Stampin' Royalty
• TSG180: Dress Up Your Coloring @ There She Goes Clear Stamps
• Challenge #53: Give Thanks @ Word Art Wednesday
• Inspired By ... #49: Photo Inspiration @ Inspired By
• #158: Anything Goes @ Crafty Catz Challenge
• Ch #45: Food & Beverage @ Pause Dream Enjoy
• Anything goes @ One Stop Craft
• Anything Goes @ Sweet Stampin' 
• #46: Let's Be Thankful @ Pile It On! 
• Challenge 45: Anything Goes @ Dream Valley 
• Copic Yellow (Y) and Yellow Reds (YR) Families @ Mad For Markers
• PWC231: Thank You Cards @ Paper Pretties
• PTT #93: Thank You @ Party Time Tuesday's
• YNSC #23: Thank You @ Your Next Stamp 

 =======================================================

For my second card I used Meljen's Cinnamon Harvest Mug. The papers are Reminisce and Imaginisce and Bazzill Cardstock. I used one of my EK edge punches, cheesecloth and the "Feels Like Fall" is a die cut sticker from Reminisce. I used a very small amount of orange peel stickles and two green pearls from Bo Bunny.
Copic:
Cinnamon Sticks - E13. E15, E17
Cocoa - E71, E74
Cup - E30, E31, E35
Leaves - E25, E17, E43, E44, YR15, YR16, YR18
Acorn - E77, E79, E35, E39

Challenges:

• Sketch 25 @ Seems A Little Sketchy
• PPMC64: Use 2 Or More Circles @ Paper Pretties
• Challenge #57: Fall @ The Stamping Boutique
• #123: Autumn Leaves @ Tuesday Throwdown 
• Fabulous Fall Colors @ Pixie Dust Studio 
• Challenge 75: Pearls and Flowers @ Fussy And Fancy 
• Challenge 23: Anything Goes @ Cards For Men 
• Word: Spring/Summer/Winter/Fall @ Bird Is The Word 
• Show Us Those Fall Colors @ Dis Digi Designs 

 =======================================================

I LOVE these little turkeys!!! They are from Just Ink Lined. I colored them with my Prismacolor Pencils. I popped pieces of them. I used three brads from Bo Bunny and two gems from Bo Bunny. I stitched around the green cardstock. Lots of layers.. I love that! And the papers are all Bo Bunny papers and Bazzill Cardstock. Happy Thanksgiving.. I can't remember which stamp I used for that. The ink was Walnut Stain Distress Ink. "Eat More Ham" was handwritten with a ZIG Memory pen and under that is Pen Touch White Opaque.

Challenges:

• Mojo Monday 266 @ {MOJO} Monday
• Challenge 53: Give Thanks @ Cheery Lynn Designs
• Challenge #13: Thanksgiving @ Eureka Stamps
• Challenge #61: Thanks @ The Paper Makeup Stamps
• Challenge 101: Lots of Layers @ Penny's Paper-Crafty
• Thanksgiving or Thank You @ The Poodles Parlour
• Fun Friday: Happy Thanksgiving @ Little Scrap Pieces
• Challenge #13: Hey Turkeys Strut Your Stuff @ QKR Stampede
• SNSDC79: Thanksgiving @ Sweet 'n Sassy
• November Theme: Things With Tails @ Catch The Bug
• Challenge #128: Thanks/Thanksgiving @ Sentimental Sundays
• Challenge #41: Birds @ Ruby's Rainbow
• Autumn Fun @ By LORi Designs Challenges

Tammy's Scrapin Corner Monday Challenge Trick or Treat

Quick announcement first:

We are having a DT Call
we are looking for some good Additions
to a wonderful Team.

To see the Requirements go to : http://www.tammyscrapincorner.com/p/dt-call-and-commitments.html

Tammy's is a GREAT team.. I love the ladies on the team and I love the atmosphere! And most of all.. there is so much talent and I'm always learning something new :)

Happy Monday Everyone!! Today begins our newest challenge at Tammy's Scrapin Corner!! We are on Challenge #33: Trick or Treat!! This week I worked with a fantastic image from QKR Stampede: R.I.P.  I had so much fun with this image! I layered three different layers. The ghost in the back, I popped the fingers and the tombstone and then I popped the jack-o-lantern one more time and the top pair of fingers. I used My Mind's Eye - Lost and Found Halloween papers, most of them are scraps. I just love them!! And I'm trying to use as much as I can! I also used an old, old large gem. I distressed some of the papers, I used several dies... the circle die, leaves and the rolled daisy. The rolled daisies and the leaves are from My Favorite Things. I have no idea where the circle came from LOL It could have been the same. I also used orange stickles on the black flower.

Copic:
Ghost Highlights: E40
Pumpkin: YR02, YR04, YR07, YR09
Stem: E13, E15
Grass & Leaves: G05, G07, G09
Gravestone: C1, C3, C5, C7

Challenges:

• MFTWSC94 Sketch @ My Favorite Things
• Challenge #20: Creepy & Kooky @ Can You Digi It?
• Challenge #87: Use A Pumpkin @ Die Cuttin' Diva's
• Fright Night... BOO! @ PaperTake Weekly
• Challenge 73: Trick or Treat (Stash=Gem) @ Shop Our Stash
• Challenge 57: Something Spooky @ Divas By Design
• October Inspiration Challenge: Halloween @ Dude Time Doodles
• Challenge 117: A Halloween Pumpkin @ Papercraft Star
• Challenge 239: Got Glitter! @ Cute Card Tuesday
• IBSIC #31: Halloween Photo Inspiration @ Inspired By Stamping
• Challenge #24: Pumpkins @ Simply Create Too
• Challenge #19: Something Spooky @ Stampin' For The Weekend
• Challenge 155: Halloween @ Crafty Catz Challenge Blog
• Ch #86: Welcome to BOO-ville @ Paper Playtime

I am having the hardest time with Blogger for the last three days. I can manage my blog just fine, but my list of blogs I follow isn't giving me the history. I want to see the new posts!! Grrr!

Kevin got his appointment today at the Consulate. It is scheduled for December 4th! Further out than I was hoping for, but at least we have a date!!!  I'm happy about that!! We need to go ahead and make the travel plans for him for Sydney.

Off to work this morning soon. I have some images I need to color, so that is what I will be working on tonight. I have two more images I need to turn into cards! I hope you all have a great day/evening!!

Thanks Pup {Card}

Happy Saturday everyone!! I hope you all have had a great week. It has been a long week for me and I haven't gotten any crafting done at all. I finally sat down tonight and got something done. Ya me!! LOL The positive thing about this past week was that I really got a LOT done at work and have managed to get ever so much closer to being caught up. A little bit to go, but I can see an end and that is some major progress!! It is amazing what someone that can help you out does to your work load!!

Immigration... We couldn't find my marriage certificate, so I had to send away for that. I sent the request overnight with a return overnight back to me. It is on its way to Kevin now and hopefully he will have it this week. The attorney did say that we can mail it without it, so I'm thinking we will get it out in the mail on Kevin's Tuesday... which is our Monday evening. I just want it to get there so we can get this last portion over with and get him home.  So, that is where we are there :)

This morning after Kevin went to bed, I went and laid back down.. I slept until almost noon!!! GEEZ!!! What the heck!! LOL I guess I was tired. And then Taylor was down from the college and stayed until after 4 pm. I think I was sort of pushing her out at that point. I was ready to sit down and start making something LOL My whole day was lost! So here is what I finally was able to come up with.

The image is Scruff and Bone from Just Ink Lined. Oh boy.. I could go crazy in their shop... I love so many of their images. I couldn't be happier when I found it!! LOVE that place!!! I've had the image done for a while... I did a bunch of images and have been trying to get them into cards LOL What I used:
Copic: C1, C3, C5, C7, E40, E41, E43, E33, E35, B0000, B02, R20, R21, R22
I used Diamond Glaze on the nose and slobber. I popped part of his face so he looked like he was holding the bone in his mouth and the slobber. Papers are all scraps. The pattered papers are from Echo Park. I used some Splatter Ribbon/Mesh and a brown ribbon that I had in my stash. The "Thanks Ever So Much" stamp is from Paper Smooches, Pretty Phrases. This was the first time I used my bow maker from 3 Girl Jam too! It was a little bow.. but wow.. I love it!! So much easier than me trying to do it with my flintstone fingers LOL

Challenges:

• Sketch #56 @ {Freshly Made} Sketches
• Stamp Something @ Marianne's Design Divas
• A Thank You or Thanksgiving Card or Project @ Totally Stampalicious
• Challenge 77: Animals @ Anything Goes Challenge

Tammy's Scrapin Corner Monday!

Happy Start of the Week Everyone! Today begins a new challenge at Tammy's Scrapin Corner. This week is Challenge #31 - Friendship!!

Challenge #31 - Friendship
Bugaboo: Best Buds
Scraps, button, twine, gems, charm
First Swing Card
Copic:

Skin: E000, E00, E11, E93
Blonde Hair: Y21 and Y23
Brunette Hair: E21, E25, E27
Khaki Pants: E30, E31, E35
Red: R24, R27, R29
Blue Jean: B93, B95, B97
White: E41 for highlights

This was next on my list of card types to try, a Swing Card. Okay... cute, but not my favorite. I don't like how it doesn't stay folded very well.  It is still a cute idea though.

Challenges: 

•  #6 World Card Making Day: Make It Shiny! (gems) @ Let's Capture These Sketches
• Anything Goes Plus a Sentiment @ Sentimental Sundays
• Challenge #26: Buttons @ Go Fish
• Challenge 26: For A Man @ Liastamps
• CCIC61: Sentimental @ Clearly I Stamp
• #19: Anything Goes @ Crafty Mess
• Challenge #138: Anything Goes @ My Grafico
• October Card Challenge: Boy Card @ The Ribbon Girl
• Challenge #4: Anything Goes @ The Crafty Bloggers Network
• Use a Digi @ Cutie Pie Challenges

I hope you all have a marvelous day. I'm off to work to try to get something done. Maybe I'll even get all caught up one of these days!! LOL

We should be getting the last of the information we need to send off to the Sydney Consulate this week. Once that is done we are just waiting on the interview to be set up. That could take three to four weeks. I still can't believe how far we have come in such a short time here at the end. And after all those months and months of waiting!

MelJen's Challenge #30: Anything Goes!

Happy Wednesday everyone!! Today begins a new challenge at Meljen Designs - Challenge #30 is Anything Goes! I made a Halloween Card. This is my first try at a Tri-Shutter Card. I really enjoy this fold! It is a lot of fun!

Images: Witch Mouse and Witchy Brew
Copic:
Book: E40, E41, E43, E44, E49 100
Mouse: E21, E25, E27, E93
Stars: Y15, Y19
Hat: V12, V15, V17
Cauldron and Shoes: C7, C5, C3, C1
Cauldron Goop: YG21, YG23, YG25
Witch: YR00, YR15, YR16, V12, V15, V17
Wire (around the hat and cauldron), Brads, Queen and Co. Twinkle Goosebumps, Recollections gem swirl, Papers - Bazzill Cardstock, Fancy Pants Oct 31 (Spooks, Love Potion) & My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Halloween (Hallows Skull Doily), Colorbox Charcoal Fluid Chalk Inkpad

Challenges:

• Challenge #27: Celebrate the Occasion (Halloween) @ The Squirrel and the Fox 
• Colour Challenge: Orange, Green and Purple @ Delightful Challenges 
• Color Challenge: Orange, Green, Purple, Black @ Pixie Dust Studio Pixie Challenge
• Challenge #151: Punch and Die (oval, scallop) @ Totally Gorjuss
• Challenge #122: 3, 2, 1 Recipe (3 Brads, 2 Images, 1 Swirl) @ Sentimental Sundays
• Challenge #119: Use Two Images @ Stamps & Fun = Creativity
• Sparkle and Shine @ Whoopsie Daisy
• MIM #109 @ Make It Monday
• Anything Goes @ Totally Stampalicious!
• Rock, Paper, Scissors @ Twisted Tuesday
• Challenge #55: Halloween @ Bearly Mine
• Monday Challenge #71: Boo To You @ My Craft Spot
• PTT #88: Frightfully Scary Projects and Cards @ Party Time Tuesday
• Ch #85: Trick or Treat + Die Cut or Punch @ Love 2 Create
• Three: Use Three of Something @ Crafty Boots
• Challenge #159: Something Wicked This Way Comes @ The Corrosive Challenges
• Challenge #44: Lots of Layers @ Victorine Stamps
• Theme: Anything Goes w/Stash: Orange, Purple or Black (brads) @ Clear It Out
• Challenge #178: Halloween @ Stampavie and More
• Challenge 25: Halloween @ Hooked on Crafts
• Monthly Challenge #3: Trick or Treat @ Connie Can Crop
• It's A Spooktacular Challenge @ Heck of A Challenge
• MCC Challenge #1: The Gh'oul Times @ My Crafting Channel
• Challenge #7: Die Cuts (Oval and Scallop) @ Oozak
• Fall @ I Brake For Challenges
• Anything Goes @ Pin and Tack 

More good news on the immigration front!! We were told it would take about a week to hear from The Sydney Consulate that they had received our file and we couldn't do the fingerprint check or anything until that was done. Yesterday, we received notification that Sydney had our file!! One day it took! I can't believe how it is moving along now. So, today Kevin stopped by the police department and got his finger prints done, then he went on into Brisbane to see his aunt and stay there for the night. Tomorrow he goes in for his medical check and we are well on our way! When he gets home tomorrow evening he should have the paperwork that I sent over.. I'm hoping! Then, next week he should receive the documentation from the medical check and then we can send everything in to the consulate!

Let's see... another day at work yesterday. Was really busy, but I feel like I'm not getting anything done. I always feel that way when I have new people. Today I HAVE to focus on getting the larger phone bills paid, because they have to be complete by Thursday. It takes me an entire day to them. That is what I am going to try to focus on today.

I set up to have a dryer delivered to us on Friday. I'm going to rent one for $22 a month until we move out of the apartment. I figured that is pretty inexpensive. We will be moving in about 5 month hopefully. I don't want to dish out $350 right now and that is the cheapest dryer I can find. Maybe after the beginning of the year, after we move, once taxes are done LOL

I'm off! Have a great day/evening everyone! I can't wait to see what you submit to our challenge!

Immigration

On September 11th we received our initial approval from the immigration center in Vermont. It took about six months to get through there. From there, the paperwork had to move on to the State Department I believe it is. There they issue a National Visa Center number. We have been waiting a couple of weeks for that and we FINALLY have it!!! I couldn't be more excited... there is truly hope that Kevin will be home for the holidays. I was almost resigned to the fact that we would be spending Christmas without him. Last night, the attorney sent an email with the number attached and told us to get Kevin's medical exam done right away. When we spoke to the medical facility that would be doing his exam, there are only a handful of approved physicians, they said it would be about a ten day wait for an appointment. I called last night to set up the appointment for him and they set it up for this Thursday!!! .. Two more days from now!! I couldn't be more excited! We are on our way now :)

Last night, Michael was in his room tossing something and most of the time missing it with a nice big CRASH! I had been on him for about 20 minutes to STOP!! And the boy just ignores what I say!! And then.. low and behold there is a very LOUD knock on the door. I knew right away what that meant... the police were at my door. Have you ever had them knock at your door.. oh my gosh!! They knock REALLY loud!! LOL So, I answered the door and sure enough it was a female officer. I put T-Bone in his crate and had her come in. She said that the neighbors downstairs had called complaining about the noise. I knew why she was there and took her back to Michael's room and let her talk to him directly. I figured that would have a much better effect on him. He knew he was in trouble.. and he answered her questions and he put away the item he was tossing and told her he would stop. We have had a lot of trouble with the neighbors downstairs. They are always complaining about noise and the majority of the time we are not loud. I know that the dog gets loud sometimes, but I take his toy and have him settle down. I do my best to keep things at a decent level of noise. The man downstairs is not very nice, kind of an angry guy. He won't make eye contact, he curses out on the back patio, he smokes with no regard to where his smoke is going.. which is right upstairs and into my window... Yuck!! Oh well.. he is who he is and he will have to answer for his own one day. I will continue to be respectful to them. I had just spoken to the wife last week letting her know I was doing the best I could. The officer came in very gruff, but I stayed calm and respectful and she in turn came down to a more approachable level. She knew that we had had trouble with the neighbors before. She left with a just do your best and was on her way. The kids were quiet after that! Go figure!! I really don't know what I'm going to do with Michael. I may end up having to send him to his father if he doesn't start listening to me. I hate really hate the thought of that, but I'm at a loss as to what to do.

Also last night..  my dryer died! Well.. I believe it must have died this weekend LOL I can't get the clothes all the way dry! I will have to see what I have once I get paid on Thursday... guess I'll be breaking down and buying a dryer! It IS a really old dryer and it was only a matter of time, but it is always something, isn't it!!?? 

Even with all of that nonsense, the noise, the dryer and my kid not listening to me!! .. that is another story on its own.... I am so happy and it was a good night.

Yesterday was my first day with the girl that will be my partner in crime at work :)  It was a good day and she is really nice. I think we will get along well. The day seemed to go well. My desk sure piled up with work though! Maybe I will go through it today and see if I can pass some of it off to her. That is a good idea!

I hope you all have a wonderful day/evening!!

Little Bailey sitting on on a bronze giraffe at the zoo LOL She's was so cute!! I can't say that about her now.. she's too big.. now she is just beautiful :) Hard to believe how quickly they grow up!!

Tammy's Scrapin Corner Challenge #29

Good morning everyone! Time to get started on another week. There is no better way to start the week off than with a new challenge at Tammy's Scrapin Corner. This is Challenge #29 with a theme of Card For A Kid! I used a digi stamp from QKR Stampede - Playing with Dad .. of course in honor of Kevin ;)  Being Australian and all LOL Here is my card:

Copic: C1, C3, C5, 100, Colorless Blender
All White Paper (all pieces but card base from my stash), Doilie (from my stash), White Ribbon (from my stash)
Darice Embossing Folders Squares and Bamboo
The play, fun and happy I used a stencil and ink. Too cute! And of course.. I added dimension to the koalas.. arms, legs, popped the square. And that is about it. 

Challenges: 

•  Card Sketch #31 @ Let's Capture These Sketches
• Challenge #189: All White Except Image! @ My Time To Craft
• Embossing @ Scrap-Creations
• Challenge #69: Emboss It! @ Shopping Our Stash
• PWC224: No Patterned/Designer Paper @ Paper Pretties
• Challenge 94: Shaped Cards @ Penny's Paper-Crafty
• Challenge 235: A Different Shape @ Cute Card Thursday
• Inspire Me Fridays 77: Anything Goes @ Joyful Stamper
• Challenge #135: For a Child @ Totally Papercrafts
• My Family @ My Sheri Crafts
• MIM #108 @ Make It Monday
• September Monthly Challenge: Family Affair @ Mema's Crafts
• Challenge #44: Anything But Square @ Little Miss Muffet
• Show Us Your Ribbon (I've had the ribbon for about 8 years LOL or more!, the doily is about 5 years old) @ Oldie But A Goodie
• Shaped Other Than Square or Rectangle @ Shelly's Images
• Week #133: The White Challenge @ The Shabby Tea Room

Thankful 09/23/2012:

1. I am thankful for the sermon today on anger. It was enlightening as usual.
2. I am thankful for the kids working together to get the dishes done in record time tonight.
3. I am thankful for the little nap that I was able to sneak in today.
4. I am thankful for the good dinner tonight. Everyone pitched in and worked on something for dinner. It was great!
5. I am thankful to Kevin for waking me up from my nap before I slept too long. I am always thankful for him being a part of my life.

Today starts our 40 Days of Prayer - United To Pray For A Great Awakening. They gave us a little book with a prayer schedule. Here is what it says for Day 1:
Day One Prayer Focus:

• Plead for God's mercy on the Church, nation and world. Pray that He would stay His righteous judgement and turn us to Himself in fervent love and deep repentance. (2 Chronicles 7:14;  Psalm 85:4-7; Daniel 9:18-19; Hebrews 4:16; James 4:8-10; 1 Peter 4:17)
• Pray for believers to be much more concerned about the glory of God's Name and spread of Christ's Kingdom than economic, political and social comforts. (Matthew 5:10-12, 6:33; James 4:1-3)

Yesterday was a good day... church in the morning, a little grocery shopping after that and then home. One more quick trip to the grocery store for the couple of things that I forgot, but then home again for the duration. I was able to work on a cards. I have some images colored and I am working on getting them into cards. I was able to complete two today. Those will be coming up in future DT posts LOL Now its off to work again to start another week. I'm hoping for the state department number we are waiting on so that we can move forward with the things that Kevin needs to get done, like his medical exam and the police check. We can't do anything until we have that darn number. I hope you all have a wonderful week!