Monday, November 8, 2010

Toto, I don't think we won

Although Halloween has past there is something I have to get off my chest. There was a pumpkin carving contest at my place of work. Two co-workers and I decided to join the competition.

We came up with this brilliant idea.


How cute are they. I don't even have to say who they were right? You can totally tell.

Here are a few other entries. There were 11 in total.



These are lovely pumpkins as well but we felt we had a real shot at winning.....we came in third. Technically we did win something...but we didn't win it all.

I wasn't planning on blogging about this. But I just came across these pictures and wounds were  re-opened.  I was hoping blogging would help in the healing process.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Addiction

Addiction is defined as the uncontrollable compulsion to repeat a behavior regardless of its negative consequences. A person who is addicted is sometimes called an addict.

Hello, my name is The Scrappy Bug and I am a Words with Friends addict. A good friend of mine introduced me to this game. It's just like scrabble but better. There is no argument over the validity of a word because the system automatically tells you the letters you played are not a word. You don't lose your turn when you make up a word. And, you can play with multiple opponents at once.

I am constantly checking my phone to see if my opponents have played a word. And because there is no penalty, I check all letter combinations to see if they make a word - Coz, Qi, Raj are all words that have been used and have scored a ton of points.

I was sick last night and didn't end up falling asleep until 4am. I woke up at 10am and the first thing I did was check my phone to see if it was my turn. I still wasn't feeling 100% but I must say entering KURTA for 38pts did make me feel just a little bit better.

If you can, I would recommend downloading this game and inviting a friend or two or three. All addiction doesn't have to be bad. This one is educational...as long as you look up the definition of the word you didn't know.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Funk

As I mentioned in a previous post, I graduated from a masters program about a month and a half ago. I was a full time student with a full time job and a need to craft. My day was scheduled from beginning to end. At times, this included my lunch hour and my bus ride to and from home. I didn't have weekends. At least not in the sense that most people have weekends - I forgot to mention - I had a part time job that took up my Saturdays. In short, I was busy.

So of course when I graduated, I took some time off. I deserved it. I earned it. So after work, I would come home and do nothing. And I mean nothing. No cooking, little cleaning, no crafting, and sadly, no blogging. I just watched TV and then watched some more TV. My weekends still include work, but on Sundays I do nothing. All day. In my PJs. It's fabulous. Marvelous. The best thing ever.

But all good things must come to an end. I have craft orders I must fill and craft fairs I must prepare for. I have to start cooking or take a third job to pay for my restaurant debt. And the dust layer is starting to look like furniture padding.

I have to get out of my funk. So I am starting with my blog. Hopefully I will have something of interest to post real soon. Wish me luck.

Monday, September 20, 2010

The Story of Larry and Bob

***PARENTAL ADVISORY****
This story is not for the timid.  

I spent the majority of my vacation in gorgeous, breathtaking, Maine. ( I have actually sent a letter to the state of Maine telling them they should change their name to Gorgeous Breathtaking Maine.  I'll let you know if they reply.)

Of course, all you hear and all you see are signs saying, "Find the best lobster rolls here." "Fresh lobster here." Even fast food restaurants get in on the action.

So of course I had to try the famous Maine lobster.

Enter the Lucky Catch.

And Captain Tom
We had so much fun on the Lucky Catch. Captain Tom was awesome. He and his staff will take you out and teach you all about lobstering. I can tell you how to identify if the lobster is male or female. I can tell you what you do if you catch an egg laying lobster. I can even rubber band a lobster claw with one twist.

But more importantly to this story, I can also tell you how tasty a fresh lobster is.

Enter - Larry and Bob.

We caught these two lobster just 30 mins before this picture was taken. They were the right size in order for us to keep and they didn't wiggle very much in your hand - two important aspects when picking your own lobster off the boat.

In this picture above, Larry is on the left. Bob is on the right.

In this picture above, we believe Larry is on the left. Bob is on the right.

I warned you, this story was not for the timid. 

More to come....

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

A Reward for a Job Well Done

As I posted earlier this week, I recently graduated from my master's program. As a reward to myself, I took a vacation and visited Boston, Massachusetts and three cities in Maine - Camden, Bar Harbor, & Portland. It was the best vacation I have ever taken and one I will never forget.
Sadly, we only had two days in Boston. Both days rained nonstop. But even in the gray and gloom, the architecture, the history, the spirit of Boston showed through.


Some of our excursions were canceled due to the rain but that didn't stop us from exploring the city on our own. I plan on going back and making Boston it's own vacation.

More to come....

Monday, September 13, 2010

I See The Light

A journey that started 2 1/2 years ago has finally come to an end. I have successfully completed my master's degree. The light at the end of tunnel was there, just like everyone said.  I am filled with emotions; happiness, relief, excitement, uncertainty about the future.....

My family through me a party to celebrate. I of course provided the invitations. I kept them simple yet elegant. It's amazing what some ribbon, pattern paper, and just the right font can do.

 

Monday, August 9, 2010

Blank Cards That Speak Volumes

Recently I gave a friend of mine a stack of blank thank you cards for her birthday. Blank cards make a great gift. This allows the person to use the cards as they wish.


 Below is the birthday card I made her.

She loved her gift.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Teenagers

One of my nephews turned 13 this year. He has already exhibited the traits of a teenager. He no longer tells his mother he loves her in front of his friends. He walks into another room when his cell phone rings. And of course, he knows everything.

Let me tell you how difficult it is to design a card for a teenage boy. I don't know that I succeed but at least he said, "This one pops up." It could be worse. He could have said, "This sucks."

It's the little things really.

Monday, July 26, 2010

My first baby shower

I am rather happy with how the baby shower turned out. I believe the guests had a good time and more importantly the mother to be really enjoyed herself.

Although this was my first baby shower, I treated this party just like my other parties. 

Presentation is everything.


 Flowers add softness and warmth.



The details matter.

Dessert is very important. These cupcakes are from Sprinkles. They were a huge hit.

If you can add something funny - do so.  I purchased these napkins over a year ago, waiting for the perfect occasion to use them - a baby shower works don't you think?

  I can't wait to do this again.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Brag Book

The baby shower I have been blogging about was this past weekend. I'll post pictures from the party later this week. The mother-to-be visits my blog so I could not post her gift until after the party. I made her a Brag Book.

Here are the two covers. 


This is one side view.
Here are some of the pages.
And of course each page had tags.
She loved the gift. I can't wait to see it filled with pictures.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Rubber Duckie

I love party favors.  Who wouldn't want a small gift to take home and unwrap. They make the perfect ending to any event.


For my friend's baby shower I had a hard time finding a good party favor. I wanted something cute but with a purpose. I searched many online stores and only one thing caught my eye; soap in the shape of an egg. The egg came in a nest and then wrapped in a box - brilliant but expensive. I thought I could make that happen for half the price.


Sadly I couldn't find an egg mold but a friend (clearlytangled) found a duck mold which matched my invitations. And then a voice from the past filled my head -

Rubber Duckie, you're the one,
You make bathtime lots of fun

                                   - Ernie
      
(Which sesame street character was your favorite?)

Of course the ducks had to go into a bath.


 
 I know what you are thinking - the duckies are missing a shower cap.

And of course packaging is everything.

Who wouldn't love avocado and cucumber scented duckie soaps. 

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Clothesline

The banner for my friend's baby shower is finished. I am so happy with how it came out.

When I was growing up, every single backyard in my neighborhood was filled with freshly laundered clothes by 10am on a Saturday morning. Although doing the laundry is still not my favorite chore, I love the smell of clean clothes on a Saturday morning.

I found these miniature clothespins at Michael's and they were the perfect finishing touch.


Thursday, July 15, 2010

Baby Shower

One of my co-workers is pregnant. This gave me a wonderful opportunity to throw a party. More specifically, a baby shower. This will be the first baby shower that I have hosted and I can't wait to throw another one. All of my friends need to get pregnant this very instant. Baby showers are so much fun to plan. Plus she already knows she is having a girl so I got to use alot of pink and make pretty things.

Over the course of the next week I will post the party favors, banner, flower arrangements, and table scape.  But first we must start with the invitation.

I used my New Arrival Cricut cartridge to make the outfit and the duck. I used my fiskars boarder punch for the bottom edge and I rounded the top two corners. They came out super cute.

No two are exactly the same. I used different papers for the base of the card as well as for the outfit. A great party always starts with a great invitation.

Friday, July 9, 2010

The Big 3-0

My best friend turns 30 today. For her special birthday, I wanted to make her a special gift. I've been dabbing in mini albums lately and came across a tutorial on a mini album made out of No 10 envelopes. I love how it turned out.

It's an accordion style design - 5 envelopes made 10 pockets and 10 surfaces to design on. 

Here are the front and back covers...or the back and front cover depending on which way you start.
Here is the side view. Once I added all the embellishments and tags, it got thick. 

A view of the inside. 
A few of the tags.

I also made her a card
I love the bright colors...although I don't believe the yellow background was the right choice for the picture.

Happy Birthday BFF.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

CSI NY meets CSI Houston

Little monster update - as posted previously, my little monster did not receive another video game from me. Instead he is going to camp at a local museum. For this week, he is our very own CSI agent. Some of the activities he has participated in thus far have been, finger printing, blood typing, sketching a suspect, drawing his own crime scene, and learning about DNA.

As pictured above, he created a double helix out of twizzlers and dots....so which are the nucleotides and which are the polymers? He is having a great time. I can't wait till Friday to find out who done it.  

Happy Birthday Mama

My mother's birthday is this week. We never know what to get her for her birthday. If you ask her, she says he doesn't want anything or need anything. There are only so many perfume bottles, lottery tickets, and Sears gift cards a lady needs. I still don't know what to get her but at least I have her card ready to go.

I picked this patterned paper because she is an amazing seamstress. She doesn't need a pattern to make anything. She just needs to look at a garment, make a few notes, and she is able to reproduce it perfectly. Same goes for knitting, crochet,  embroidery etc. I wish I could do half the things she is able to do.

Happy Birthday Mama - I love you.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Got Cake?

I made this card for my older brother. He is the same brother who started our family's weight loss club (as a family we are down 301lbs since February). He loves receiving my cards. He thinks they are just as good as hallmark. I think they are 10x better but that is his way of paying me a compliment.

I thought the sentiment "Got Cake?" was perfect. His answer should be no on any other day, but for his birthday he should indulge.

Happy Birthday (not so big anymore) Big Brother. Love you!

Monday, June 28, 2010

What's a serger?

I made this birthday card for a very good friend of mine who is turning 33 this week. I value our friendship more than she knows...even though she says I'm an old lady.

Don't be deceived by the paper design, she doesn't know how to sew. As far as I know, she has never picked up a needle and thread. I fell in love with the colors and the layout.

Happy Birthday dear friend!



Saturday, June 19, 2010

Happy Father's Day

There are some men who have that dad quality about them naturally. He may not be your own father but he is the person you look up to, the person you go to when you have a problem, the person you want to make proud. This is the best kind of dad because he can't ground you.

To all the fathers and those who fit that role - Happy Father's Day!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Doggie Daddy

I do not own a pet so I don't always understand the relationship between pet and owner. There are some pet owners who truly see their pets as their children - their babies. They have professional pictures taken of their pet which are proudly displayed on their mantels and hallways. They pay for expensive doggy daycares and groomers that massage scalps and rub bellies, they purchase only the finest gourmet doggy treats and food. Then there are the truly special who refuse to move to go to the bathroom because their precious pet is napping on their lap.

For the two special doggie daddies in my life, these cards were made for them - against my better judgment :) Happy Father's Day!



Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Patience Dad

Everyone has heard their mother tell them, "You wait until you have children of your own." or "I hope your child is just like you so you can see what it's like." Inevitable, our mother's curse dose come true and we end up with children who don't listen, who talk back, who never clean their room or brush their teeth, or can stand still for more than two seconds. 

My brother was a rambunctious little boy who would never listen. Mom had a hard time keeping up with him. Now the tables are turned and his little one is just as antsy as he was. My brother has somehow found patience we never knew he possessed. He hardly ever loses his temper and he always takes his time with his son. He has become a wonderful father. Looks like he was paying attention to mom after all.

 Happy Father's Day Patient Dad!