Paper Trey Ink's First Blog Hop!!! Woohooo!!

There's a blog hop going on at Paper Trey Ink. You can read all about the blog hop details HERE!


It has been a very trying week so I forgot all about the blog hop challenge. Thank goodness I checked in on the PTI forum and was reminded about the blog hop TONIGHT! Yikers! So I ran to Wal-Mart in search of some supplies to make something for the challenge. I bought an unfinished wooden coat rack and decided I wanted to use it to store my delicious PTI ribbon. My PTI ribbon is so special to me so I wanted to store it separately from my ribbon stash. It's so pretty that I wanted to create a place of honor for it.

Our challenge for this blog hop was to incorporate ribbon as a focal point in a fun & unique way! So I decided instead of using the ribbon on a project, I would show a clever, functional and beautiful way to display and store the ribbon!

The first thing I did was spray paint the whole thing white. It has black hooks, which would've detracted from the delicate beauty of the ribbons, so the black hooks just had to go! I just traced the oval shape of the wooden plaque and cut my paper out to fit. I then used my 3/4" circle punch to punch out the circles out of the pink patterned paper to create the scallop border. I glued the little circles to the back of the oval. I printed out on the computer a saying that I just fell in love with on Nichole Heady's studio blog post. It says, "Surround yourself with the things you love". What better saying for a ribbon holder, eh? Tee hee!! To finish the project off, I punched some flowers out of more of the beautiful pink patterned paper, attached some buttons and viola!

I apologize for the low quality photography of my project. We're living in a dark little apartment right now so I tried going outside to get the shot. I had to hang my project on our front door, but it's really going to go in my new scrap room once our house is finished! I can't wait!!

So here is the finished project. Not bad for throwing something together at the last minute!!

You can click on the photos for a closer view.
Thanks for stopping by!

Today's daily musings...

I've been a real blogging slackard lately, so to make up for it, here is a long post and hope you stick with me until the end.

For Joy, here is my avatar photo, hopefully a little bigger so you can see it better.

My sis-in-law, Patty took this photo of me before I got my hair cut, but unfortunately the photo was a little blurry. It looks ok in a small format but if it's blown up any larger, you can really see how blurry it is. Since avatar are normally really small, this photo works ok for that.

Now on to a RAK I received:

My girlfriend, Becky, sent me the cutest 3-pack of moleskine journals she got at Barnes and Noble. So I took and altered them. I forgot to take a pic of Becky's before I mailed it to her, so you'll have to see the one I made for myself. The paper is by Paper Trey Ink and can be found here. When I have more time, I'll take a photo of the paper trimmer I used to create the scallop strip. It's by Marvy/Uchida I think and has interchangeable blades for different effects. I used the scallop blade, obviously here. The rain dots I found in a little bag at Michael's. They come in a bag of like a zillion for like $3.99. I might've got the idea on Becky's blog, but I can't remember now who's blog gave me the tip. I have some to share. If you'd like to try them out, let me know and I'll send you a baggy of them. I have Blue, Clear, Green and Pink. I used Autumn Leaves swirl stamps and Palette Burnt Umber ink.

Here is my most recent layout:

Here is a layout I did for a challenge at A Million Memories based on a sketch by Valerie Salmon. I did it on the five things I want to do before I "kick the bucket". If you didn't see the movie, "The Bucket List", it's a must see. My list includes:

1. Read the Bible cover to cover.

2. Travel to Europe.

3. Learn the violin.

4. Visit Alaska.

5. Finish my degree.

The third one in the pack I think I'll make for my friend Katie.

On to more happy talk, here is the RAK I put together for Joy and Christine. Can you believe all these yummies came from the Target Hot Spot? I got my Zutter binder out and made a 6x6 mini album for them out of some spare chipboard sheets I got from online kit orders. I cut the inner pages out of Georgia Pacific 110 lb. cardstock I bought at Wal-Mart. It's stiff enough to hold up to altering. Then I took the paper, cut it down to size and included matching embellishments such as little cute spools of ribbon, foam flowers, flower brads, chipboard tags, prima type flowers and rhinestone brads. I just thought the colors were so bright and cheery. It makes me look forward to summer, sunny days soon to come!!

Chris, do you want me to send this to you Dad's or to your P.I. addy?

Have fun with you goodies, girls!

Now for some house pictures!!

Here's the view out our front door. Everything is muddy and sloppy right now with all the rain.

Here is Connor's bedroom.

Here is the Master Bedroom and Bath. There are two separate closets with a jet tub in between the closets. To the right is a water closet (a private room for the stool). We plan to have a double sink vanity and also a separate marble shower. The master features a door out to the patio, coffered ceilings with can lights all around.

Here's a photo of Uncle Allen, Eric and Ryan. Connor is named after Uncle Allen. He is Shirley's brother. He is doing the taping on our home. This view is from the living room looking into the dining area and the fireplace. Off the dining area you can see a slider door that leads out onto the screened back porch.

Here is the view from the dining area looking into the kitchen. In the corner is a pantry. There's also an island in the middle of the room. The kitchen sink will sit right under that arched window.

Here is a photo looking from the dining room into the living room.

As you can probably see, our kitchen, living and dining area is one big open area. Behind where Eric is standing is the master bedroom to the right and the mudroom to the left. Behind where I am standing taking this picture are two separate bedrooms (one being Connor's room and the other a guest bedroom) with a hallway bathroom in between the two bedrooms.

So it's a simple, yet functional home, perfect for the four, soon to be three of us. Down in the basement will be my scrap space and a bathroom and bedroom for Ryan eventually.

If you're still here, thanks for looking!!

RAK winners!

Christine had 16 posts.
Joy had 15 posts.

So, since it was so close, I'm going to send them each a "thank you" gift for visitng me so often.

I love all of y'all so please visit often!

Theresa
XOX

Time for some blog candy!

I'm going to count up all the comments from last month until now. Whoever posted the most comments will get a small prize pack from me.

Stay tuned!

New post just for Lacintha

Ok, Laci. You win. You cracked me up on your last comment so here is the tag I promised I'd post for you.

If you can, please stop by and visit my girlie Lacintha.

Top Fives:
5 things you cannot live without under $10
1. Blistex medicated lip balm
2. McDonald’s Sweet Iced Tea
3. $6 drive thru car wash
4. Dove chocolates
5. The $1.99 Hot Spot at Archivers

5 favourite movies
1. The Notebook
2. August Rush (Jonathan Rhys Meyers- YUM) or Pirates of the Carribean (Johnny Depp- YUM)
3. Rat Race
4. Napoleon Dynamite
5. Dumb & Dumber

Baby names you love(but won't use)

Girls
1. Bella
2. Scout
3. Georgia
4.

5. Boys
1. Micah
2. Josiah
3. Ezra
4. Jonah
5. John

5 songs you could listen to over and over:
1. Anything Rascal Flatts
2. Anything Blues Traveler
3. Anything Mercy Me
4. Anything Casting Crowns
5. Anything Dave Matthews Band

5 people who influenced your life in a positive way:
1. My Dad
2. My boys
3. Pat Stoltenberg
4. Mama McKenzie
5. Mama Bryant

5 things that stay in your purse all the time:
1. Wallet
2. Blistex Lip Balm
3. Pen
4. Cheque-book
5. Swiss Army knife

5 moments you knew changed you forever:
1. The day my dad died
2. The day I graduated from High School
3. The first time I became a mother
4. The day I moved out of my parent’s house
5. The day I got divorced

5 obsessions you have right now:
1. Losing weight
2. Stamps
3. McDonald’s sweet tea
4. Spending money
5. Scrapbooking/cardmaking

5 places you would really love to go:
1. Europe
2. Alaska
3. Australia
4. Philippines
5. Fiji or Japan or China

5 people you would love to see do their top 5:
1. Jozzie
2. Cheryl
3. Joy
4. Kelly
5. Jude

(Don't be jealous, Deb. I already know all about you)

I love photoshop

Heh heh...

Look what I got in the mail today!

My sweet friend, Katie surprised me with this beautiful card in the mail today!!

The scan does NOT even do it justice. It's such a beautiful card! And the neat thing is she didn't sign the inside. Instead she included this sweet little verse printed on a separate paper:

"Though free of words, this card is full
of thoughts of love and cheer-
Made both for you and someone else
that you consider dear.
So if you have a hankerin'
to brighten someone else's day,
Just add your message & a stamp,
and send it on its way!

Um, yeah, I think I'll send it to someone dear- ME! LOL! I'm keeping this one!

Katie and I formed a bond after she read my post about missing my dad.

So thank you, Katie. I'm so blessed by our newly found friendship!

Healthful Recipe of the Day

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should never be skipped. So why not try something this delicious for breakfast?

Utter Oatmeal INSANITY!
This is, HANDS DOWN, the world's CRAZIEST and most delicious bowl of guilt-free oatmeal!!!

PER SERVING (entire recipe): 179 calories, 3.5g fat, 367mg sodium, 40g carbs, 11g fiber, 3g sugars, 7g protein

Ingredients:
1 packet Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Regular
1/4 cup Fiber One bran cereal (original)
1/4 cup light vanilla soymilk
2 tbsp. canned pure pumpkin
2 tbsp. Fat Free Reddi-wip
1 tbsp. sugar-free maple syrup
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon)
5 sprays I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray
1 no-calorie sweetener packet (like Splenda)
dash salt

Directions:
Place all ingredients except for Reddi-wip in a microwave-safe bowl. Add 1/4 cup water and stir. Microwave for 45 seconds, stir, and then continue to cook in the microwave for 30 - 40 seconds. Once oatmeal has thickened, remove bowl from the microwave. Add the Reddi-wip, and stir well. Then enjoy the best bowl of oatmeal you've EVER tasted!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Tag- You're it!!

I was tagged by Lacintha, so here goes:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and leave a comment on their blog, so that their readers can visit yours.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share 7 Random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 random people at the bottom of your post, linking to their blog.

Let each person know by leaving a commenton their blog.

7 things about me …

1. I am adopted;
2. I have a morbid fear of roaches (the big black hairy ones that fly);
3. I have a sister and a mother-in-law both named Shirley Ann;
4. I hate my toes and think they are too long and skinny like my fingers;
5. I love purple;
6. I drive a Volkswagon Jetta Turbo Diesel;
7. I have been certified in scuba diving.

I will now tag:

Everyone who reads this post.

Uumm...Is it March??

Ok, being from Texas, snow in March is just freaking me out! What the??? I am really, really tired of winter and can't wait until spring and warmer weather. This weather has really put a damper on my secret shopping excursions! Tee hee....

I guess I'll have to buy Connor a snow suit for Easter this year!
Here is a photo taken about 30 minutes ago. The snow is really coming down today!!




What have you been working on? I've been working on some cards for a card swap.
Remember you can click on each image to get a closer look.




I thought you might be interested in seeing the progress of the house. This was taken on 2/7/08. The company I work for is now into spray foam insulation for houses, so naturally, I'm having them insulate our home. Not much has happened since then. We've been waiting on our drywaller to show up to drywall our house. Between the weather, the flu and whatever other excuses he has, he still hasn't shown up and I'm about ready to give the job to somebody else!








Eric, and his buddy, Mark finally completed the siding on our house! That's mark on the scaffold.