I haven't dropped off the face of the earth...really I haven't!!

OK so I haven't gotton any stitching or scrapbooking done BUT for a very good reason. Both the kids are in school this year and I am now off the SAHM roster. I started working part time the day the kids went back to school. Steph has homework 4 nights a week and Nick has homework only on the weekends. I think the school sends it home just so mom and dad can't have a relaxing weekend lol.

I need to finish up my Halloween Ornament for my partner and get it in the mail by the 30 (yes 3 days away) and then get started on my Christmas Ornament Exchange. I also want to make a blanket and a scrapbook for my nieces new baby girl due to arrive in November. I know someone take something off this plate of mine. Should I through in I have 10 Christmas Ornament orders and 6 scissor fob orders to make for Christmas.

Things are going good so far and I have lost 10 lbs since I started working. Which means I started actually eating a breakfast and getting a lunch in instead of spending lunch time driving to pick Nick up from school. And Harry has been cooking dinner the nights I work late. It is nice coming home to a warm meal (and I didn't have to stop and pick it up or cook it) He enjoys helping and knows I don't want him anywhere near my washer and dryer.

Well there is my good excuse now I am going to bed. Busy day tomorrow!!

B

A Thank You Card Finish

Paper is DCWV The Green Stack and Thinking of You is Cricut Cartridge Alphalicious.

Prairie Schooler Pumpkin Ornament

I'm think I am going to make an Autumn/Fall tree because I just want to keep stitching these and making them into ornaments. I keep saying I will do a Halloween one but never get around to stitching them. So for now I will settle for the the season.

CHS-Quaker House Samplers

Yes Yes another quaker design...but this one has a house so I'm not entirely insane with quakers. I liked the colors because they were different from the other quakers I do. It's nice to clear out projects in my stash that have been in my todo pile. Out of 10 I have finished 5 in a little over a week. More room to go stash shopping now lol.

Prairie Schooler Ornament

I love Prairie Schooler. I never get tired of stitching them. They stitch up so nice and not that I mind backstitching but it is nice not to have any in these designs. I added a leaf button and light green ribbon that says Autumn on it in a darker green. Oh how I wish fall was here so I wouldn't have to be out in this almost 100 degree weather.....

Quaker Alphabet Sampler

This was a fun stitch. I couldn't believe it was done in 3 days of stitching. From Carriage House Samplings. The colors match my couches and curtains so I might actually frame and hang this one. Stitched on 28ct evenweave using DMC threads.

Quaker Finish-A Quaker Clock

I couldn't put this down I loved stitching it soo much. It was a nice 3 days of stitching. I used DMC for the whole thing.

More playing with the SCAL,and SVG files

The first flower I made using the cricut ink and then cutting, the second I cut and rolled the flower a bit and the 3rd is just a poinsettia with brads. Designs are freebies from google searching.

Playing with the SCAL, Cricut and the Ink...

Here are the results of messing around with my SCAL,cricut and the ink cartridges. The fish is a freebie I found through google somewhere.

A Small Chipboard Purse Finish

Another small chipboard I made for a friend. I might have to make another for me I liked it so much. I used a $1 album from Micheals and paper is DCWV All Dressed Up. My friend didn't want any embellishments just the basics.

My first sewing project-A Jean Purse

For some reason people find it funny that I can cross stitch and not know how to sew. My DH knows how to sew better than me and still has his little sewing pouch the Army gave him lol. Now that I have 2 sewing machines in the house I am determind to learn how to use them.

In the meantime I tried a little sewing by hand tonight (with the help of youtube) and my 8yr old couldn't be happier with her new purse. My Nicholas wants to know if I will make him one. I told him mommy will have to learn how to make a backpack because boys don't carry purses. He was not so pleased with me. My mom made one of these for me when I was real little and now I know I'm getting old when things start coming back into style for my kids.

An Independence Day Album

I started this before the house remodel and finally got a clear spot to do some scrapbooking. This is my 1st 4th of July scrapbook finish and I think I like it lol. It amazes me how a simple $0.70 board book can be made into a memory. I added a little bit of cookout and watermelon paper to it because what is the 4th without those 2 things. I will add the pics I took of the fireworks soon!

A Small Quaker Finish

Another fun quaker stitch. I think I will make this one into an ornament like the others, or maybe a scissor fob. I used DMC Variations to make this freebie from My Aunts Attic blog.

Some Quaker WIPs Day 1

I currently added 2 new projects to my WIP rotation. This is my progress for day one of stitching. The top design is Quaker Alphabet by Carriage House Samplings and the bottom design is A Quaker Clock by Samplers and Such. (I am not making it into a clock though).

I found the 2 of the cutest scrapbook lines I have yet to see and had to get them. It was futile to resist expecially since they were all on clearance.

The top set is by Autumn Leaves called Poppies and the second set is from Making Memories called Chloes Closet. I just need to get my hands on a Chloes closet paper pack and I'll be all set. Aren't they adorable.

Paper Bag Spring Scrapbook Finish

Spring might be on its way out and Summer is coming but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it. I started and finished this small scrapbook album last night. It is made from lunch bags and has 12 pages including front and back. I am just posting a few of the pages. I went a little flower crazy but isn't that what spring is all about?

OMG could it possibly be another monochome..

Hey at least one has 4 colors of the DMC Variations (are we seeing a pattern here) Another Freebie design that I just had to stitch. Started and finished in one day. I love how these flow so easily and turn out so good.

Rain Rain has finally started to go away

Before the rain came to wash us away I got some gardening done. I added new flowers to the fence and added a border to the left so I can put my grandmothers Madonna statue there. As you can see my pumpkin has gone amazon and actually has jumped the border on both sides. Forthought would have been to read up about pumpkins before planting it there because they get up to 25ft long. I also get the feeling I will be making pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, hmm what else can you make with a pumpkin lol.

The pea plants have given us nice peas to eat. The kids check them every day to see who gets to find and eat them. So I started some more buds to add. I thought my neighbors would take issue to my garden in the front yard but all I have gotton is how nice it is.

I had a nice fountain that finally kicked the bucket and didn't want to pay out the $35 for a new pump so I turned it into a planter in my back yard under one of my jasmine vines. We have vines one each side of the fences that smell so nice.

Next up is redoing the back plant bed. I put new mulch down, still need to trim the Hibiscus and have 5 new planters I stil need to pick plants for. I find the less expensive the plant to buy the longer it last. Those ones are so durable to rain, sun and cold.

Excuse my long grass in the pictures, we are getting to where we will have to start cutting it twice a week.

Wow!! Whats this? Another Monochrome...

This is the second piece I have started and finished in one day. I started and finished it today. Again using the DMC Variations. Freebie design is from My Aunts Attic. Thinking this would also look nice finished sideways as an ornament hmm.

Another Monochome Cross Stitch Finish

I'm on a little bit of a one color kick right now. I used DMC variations and really like working with them. It is a freebie from My Aunts Attic. I think I will turn it sideways and finish it into an ornament.

A small Quaker Finish

This was a quick stitch project, made quicker by using Variations thread by DMC. The pattern is from a magazine. I will be adding these details when I figure out where I put it. I stitched from a working copy to make it more portable for me to take in the car. Now to figure out what to finish it into?

My Baby Boy is graduating Preschool. Where has the time gone. Nicholas turned 5 on the 13th and is ready for summer to begin. Now I won't be doing taxi service with them both going to different schools. Bad thing now is school starts 40 minutes earlier in the fall. I am so not a morning person so this is going to be interesting. Good thing Harry gets home from work around the time we all need to get up and start our day. Stephanie is all ready to show him their school. She finishes being on the honor roll all year and only missing one day of school. She was not happy about that either lol. Well more time to take pictures and craft I guess. :0)

Too Cute Sesame Street Cards

These were sooo easy to make and fun, minus the glue mishaps I always have. Glue is not my friend lol. I made 2 sets. I am thinking of seeing if the school needs one set for the 2nd Grade Carnival Raffle they are going to have. Haven't a clue what to do with the others but they were too cute not to make. Designs are from Paper Crafting with Kids magazine.

New Patriotic Scissor Fob

In honor of the Red White and Blue I bring you (drum roll lol) My new Partiotic Fob. I liked them so much I made like 5. Making one never seems to be enough when they come out so cute. It also helps that I have enough scissors for most of the fobs I make if I rotate them for the seasons. :0)

Getting ready for the 4th of July!!

I'm one of those people that decorates for EVERY holiday. I don't know if it's because the kids love it or I'm just a big kid. The pattern is a snippet from Lizzie Kates Yankee Doodles.

My 1st Floss Tag Holder

This is the chance that both cross stitching and scrapbooking comes in handy to have one tool. The hole punching tool that makes mini scrapbook albums also makes great punches in the tag holders. The design is brittercup designs. I'm definatly going to need to work on my finishing before I make one for an exchange.

My 2nd Pin Keep-Bees

A freebie from The Drawn Thread changed up a little. I added blue (are we seeing a pattern here with the blue lol) and added pins. I made this for my partner in my Spring/Easter Exchange I ran on 123stitch.com. I stitched 2 more but haven't finished them yet. Hopefully I can add them to my finishes next month.

My New Scrapboooking goodies-Sea Glass

I am Happy Dancing because I found a Scrapbook line I fell in love with called Sea Glass. It might be something to do with the fact that BLUE is my favorite color. And then it could be the family trip we are planning to the keys inspired me. I picked up the paper and Accessories from Joanns fabric and the scrapbook from Micheals using my 50% off coupon. I will get more of the line from 123stitch.com using the gift certificates I have.

Teachers Gift Boxes

Next week is Teacher Appreciation week so Steph and I made up these little gift boxes for her and Nicks teachers. This Wed we were asked to bombared Stephs teacher with chocolate so we are going to put some chocolates in there and send it in with a little card that matches. Haven't decided yet what we will do with Nicks teachers yet.

New Stitching Finish..finally!!

Yeah I finally made a trip to the store to pick up the last skein I needed to finish this. "DMC 471" Yes I know the right side is one off but I'm not frogging anything off this thing lol

My Summer Exploding Box Finish

My scrapping buddy and I are always looking for new things to make and when I came across this one I knew I had to send her the link. Within a week I was a at her house and we were putting ours together. I picked a bright summery theme and am liking how it turned out. I have even kitted up a couple more themes to make when I have the time. (like Noahs Ark, sweet treats, 4th of July and soccer ones for the kids).

Getting ready for Spring

We picked up the border for my new flower beds this week. I can't wait to finish pulling up the grass to start putting them in. Then I get to pick out all my plants and flowers. I already visited Home Depot and Lowes to eye some choices.

Tonight I finished up these 2 springtime cards for the kids easter baskets. Stephanie asked if we could make 19 for her class and teacher. I said " How about one for the teacher and we will get the rest of the class some spring themed pencils. She was pleased with that.

Within the next 3 days I have to head over to my friend Shays because she is going to loan me some of her stamps to do some more cards. My next project is Birthday cards. more to come .....