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Calling all techies....

I'm having some technical problems with my free "card art" download... I'm working on it as you read this. Please come back later on today. Smiles!

July 30, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Your Questions

Day 7 Ask me a question... Any question. Here are my answers! I thought this was so fun i'm definitely going to do it again!

To nap or not to nap? Definitely nap, especially in the warm sun!

Your favorite Song? I'm not much of a music buff. I have alot of songs I like but not a favorite. Probably my favorite is a song called "Love Grows" that I sing with my girls every night.

What's your favorite "method" for scrapbooking? I'd say finding unique supplies that inspire me. When i'm really excited about a particular ribbon or paper its really easy to create.

When you make a pb&j how do you do it? First I cut off the crust then put on a ton of PB then the jelly right on top then the top bread. I love pb&j's because my girls don't like PB so I don't have to share!

How do you stay inspired? Do you have "dry spells"where creating seems like a chore instead of fun? I stay inspired by having lots of supplies at home so I don't have to run out for anything. Honestly creativity comes pretty easy to me and I love to do it. I have an off day now and then but they pass quickly. More than anything its not that I don't want to create something just that i'd rather do something else. The funny thing about being creative is that the more you do it the easier it is.

When are you coming to San Francisco? Maybe this fall :)

How did you get started making cards? I started by using left over scraps from scrapbook pages. Then supplies were already out and color coordinated so it was easier to make a card then put all the stuff away. Back then I did alot of stamping.

Do you make or follow sketches or do you just think them up? I don't use sketches. I'm currently trying to document the madness behind how I go about creating. I'll have to get back to you on that.

How did I get my job at Sizzix?I was just sitting at my computer one day and got an email from a gal that used to attend my classes and had gone to work for Sizzix. I royally lucked out! Thanks Brandi!

Do you scrapbook too? I do, I should do it alot more!

What is your favorite time of the year? See yesterdays post.

What do you order at Starbucks? I don't drink coffee but recently I've learned that I do like their double chocolate chip frapachino.

What's your favorite cookie? Snicker doodles... please feel free to send me some.

Cupcake or pie? Pie, berry ala mode... Red or Pink? Red, even though I don't wear it very well... Jelly beans or Jolly ranchers? Jolly ranchers... Gum or breath mints? Gum- trident cinnamon (they just started making it again)

What inspires you when you are looking for new ideas? Taking a little bit of time away from the craft room and being outside or a shopping trip to a favorite craft supplier.

How much time do you spend on one card? No more than 30 minutes. If its taking longer than that I start over. Let's not even talk about how long it takes to make the kits for each card. For cards I make for Sizzix it can take ALOT longer. We've been known to spend an entire day on one card. That's usually because there are specific requirements for what we can use.

When did you passion for card making begin? I don't know when it began. I really have a passion for the people that I get to know through card making more than the cards themselves. As my classes and kits have grown so has my love for making cards.

Where do you get the time to do all this cute stuff? Well let me first say my kids are in school all day now! And this is what I do for a living it's my job. I also try to be swift in my decisions, I could spend all day moving things around trying to get things just right but I've found i'm often just as happy if I just commit and stick it down.

What is your favorite memory about being a kid? Spending time with my grandparents and my pets.

How often do you make your beautiful cards? Once a week? Five days a week?? I work on something creative every single day. And if i'm away from my craft room I journal, think about supplies I have and how I can use them and recently i've been trying to draw more.

Thanks for all your fun questions... Here's a question for you!

What do you do to get or stay inspired?

Hope you have a wonderful day!

July 29, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Card Love Winner and So Much More!

Well hello everyone! This is gonna be a long one so might I suggest you get a cool glass of ice tea or coffee. Go ahead... I'll wait... OK, ya ready... Here we go!

First off did you know that I was on vacation the entire time that "Card Love" Days was going on? I had pre-posted all 14 days. I was able to check in once in a while and add some comments when I had internet access. Over the next week or so i'll be telling you and showing you lots or where we went and what we did. 14 days is a loooooong time to be away from home. I feel like a stranger in my own home and while it is nice to be home, tomorrow i'll be wondering where the sweet little lady that makes my bed is. So if you find any typos or misspelled words please forgive me i'm tired and I have barely typed for two weeks.

Guess what else... These past two weeks has been the most rewarding time of blogging for me. Ya know why? Because of all your comments. Sometimes blogging feels like a one way street, I really want to get to know everyone that visits my blog. I want to know you are here... so PLEASE keep the comments coming! More on that another day...

So here we go with my answers to the 14 "Card Love" questions and prompts I gave each of you.

Day #1 What is the best place you've ever traveled? This was hard to choose... I'd say it was British Columbia last summer because I had the experience of a life time there! Check it out Here . But... as far as relaxing goes... hands down my trip to Mexico last fall. I was a much better parent when I returned. You can check that out Here, Here or Here

Day #2 What quality do you like most in a friend? I like to be able to pick up where I leave off with someone no matter how much time has passed between seeing or talking with them. No drama please... if your mad, hurt or upset let me know so I can fix it. I'm pretty simple... I like to laugh! My oldest friend is Cathy, we've been friends since 5th grade. I saw her on my vacation for the first time in 22 years! We had an awesome visit!

Day #3 What makes you really happy? Laughing... nothing feels better.

Day #4 What else are you doing right now? Listening to the dryer and Niguel clean the bathroom (I don't know why she's doing it and i'm not asking any questions)

Day #5 Who would you like to be with more than anyone else right now? Exactly where I am, with my family. But i'm missing my dog too, he's still at grandma's.

Day #6 What was your favorite birthday? None really stand out to much as a favorite, that's why I asked you. :) But the one I remember most was one of my slumber parties where one of the girls said she invited some boys to come over and I cried in my room the whole night.

Day #7 Questions from you... This is a long one so i'm going to reply to your questions in tomorrows post.

Day #8 What kind of cards do you send the most? I send alot of thank you cards.

Day #9 What is your pet peeve? Sometimes things get to me more than other times but right now it's crinkling bags. For instance my husband who eats crackers or cookies out of the box instead of pouring them into a bowl. That noise just drives me nuts! But my all time pet peeve is a pity party... Have a moment, I have moments, but then get on with it! I believe in bootstraps... find them, use them!

Day #10 What do you do for yourself as a special treat? Take a nap or have uninterrupted time alone at home.

Day #11 What is the best day of your life? I have two... February 4th 1998 and June 15th 1999 the days I became a mother.

Day #12 Do you like cookies, cake or pie? Pie please... a piece of my grandmas berry pie ala mode'. Check her out in action Here

Day #13 What is your favorite season? I live in So. California so we barely have two seasons. I'd say I like the hot one (summer) because I get to be with my girls more, we go on vacation, and I love the water. But when cooler days come I welcome the chace to wear a pair of jeans and a sweater.

Day #14 Are you lucky? I agree with all of you... I am lucky to be blessed. But I did win a Laverne and Shirly board game in a raffle when I was little and I accidently bet the wrong bet on a horse race once and wound up winning $1600.

Alright i'll get on with it... The winner is..... Kristen Butler "Berry Pie ala mode" Congrats Kristen! Send me an email with your contact information so I can send out your cards! I used random integer generator to pick the winner.

Still coming up this week... My answers to your questions, first in a series of free card downloads I designed on vacation and some vacation photos.

And I received a TON of emails while away about my ususal Christmas in July sale. I wanted to get in at least one thing since there are only a few days left, so here you go if your interested.

What you'll get... 10 different handmade Christmas Cards and envelopes. The picture is a sampling of cards, they'll be packaged in a cello bag of 10 each with a cute bow of course! If you buy more than one i'll make sure you don't get two of the same. It's a great deal at less than a buck a card!

July 28, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (8)

Card Love Day 14

Are you lucky?

Thanks for playing along... i'll pick a winner from all the comments tonight. Check back tomorrow to see who the lucky winner is... Smiles!

July 27, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (20)

Card Love Day 13

Just a few more days of "Card Love" Don't forget to post a comment for a chance to win all 14 cards! I'm LOVING all the comments... I'll do a post of my answers to all the "Card Love" questions when I post the winner! Good Luck!

This card was one of my favorites from the July Creative Cards Kit... Some of you have already seen it because you are the lucky ones that already have it! But I wanted to share it with others! Smiles... Have a great day!