maria's craft room

Baby Cards...and pictures of 'my baby'

Hi there!  I know...a weekend post, right?  I've been making mountains of cards for an upcoming craft show, so I thought I'd take a minute to show a couple of them.

I spent quite some time playing with Copics...so after all of that coloring I left the designs relatively simple.  After making these and what feels like a million other baby card designs (I'll share them another day), I was in the mood to sort through some recent pictures of my baby, my dog Deuce.  He's a stocky Italian Greyhound fast approaching his 7th birthday and he is the completely spoiled recipient of our attention.  He sleeps in our bed and I'm not talking about at the foot of the bed, either.  I think we may have done everything wrong when it comes to this little guy, but there's not much we can do about it now!  Every morning while the husband and I are getting ready for work, Deuce just lays in bed.  This is normal for him...under covers, head on pillow.  I know, I know.  But he's just so darn cute.  By the way, we're making progress with saving up for that handcrafted Amish bed.  We absolutely love the kitchen table and chairs that we had made for us.  I really can't say enough about the craftsmanship.  And having a 'grown-up' kitchen table actually led to the husband and I having more dinners at the table instead of on the couch in front of the tv.  Amazing.  I know that the bed frame will be a once-in-a-lifetime purchase, both for the quality and the cost! And here's the little prince enjoying one of his favorite things to do...lay in the sun at the back door.  And isn't that hallway weird?  That brick jutting out is the side of our fireplace.  It's floor to ceiling brick but on an angle at the back corner of our family room.  Consequently it blocks 6 inches of the back hallway.  I have to wonder if it was added after the original framing of the house...we live in one of the original 'model' houses of our early '70's neighborhood and I think a lot of options were thrown on at the last minute...almost like they were making it up as they went along! 

Well thank you for stopping by today and letting me ramble.  I'm off to avoid some housework and hopefully catch up on emails and blurfing.  Enjoy your Saturday!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  all Papertrey except deckle Nesties, May Arts white ribbon and BasicGrey papers

Craft Room Photos

Ok...I promised some updated pictures.  The room isn't completely finished yet, but here you go!  I like having things right within reach so we installed some shelving and added storage bins up top to take care of storage issues.  Some pictures were taken last night and some this morning (hence the difference).  I knew I'd have trouble with the window side with the natural light.

Left side (where I sit and work):

 

 

I put up a card from each of the Loonies plus my sister (mom of twins) and my friends Liz and Fran.  Yes, Liz...you're on the top shelf, third one in!  I have Fran's and my sister's on the shelf with the tv.  Fran has made me so many beautiful cards that I'm planning on rotating them weekly for added inspiration.

So as you go around the room this is my die cut and embellishment 'station'.  I have my nesties in cd cases on the left of the closet wall, and the shelves contain a candy store of buttons, flowers, ribbon, eyelets, dew drops, glitter glue and liquid pearls. 

Hey...stop looking at those boxes on top.  They're not organized yet.  But who am I kidding?  I'm not even 5 feet tall and I have horrible balance issues.  It's not likely I'll be getting up there any time soon:)   And finally, here's the right side of the room:

I took that from a weird angle because I still have things laid out on the floor in front of the dressers that I have to sort through.  Didn't want you seeing that mess!   And I haven't finished clearing off the guest desk (90 degrees to the right of where this picture was taken) either but I'll have to do it soon.  The husband is having a fantasy football draft here next weekend and he invited one of the other wives to come over and play in my craft room.  I've never met her.  Ummm...and he invited her to my craft room.  I'm sure she's fabulous but...it's my craft room of all places!  My happy place...my therapy...my sanctuary.  Ahhhh...I'll have to practice sharing this week.  Grrr!  These are my toys!  *giggle*  I know it'll be fun.  And it was time to clean and re-organize anyway.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

New Blog Design

Hi there...yes, it took me hours today (why won't technology be my friend?!?) but I finally built a custom theme and created my own blog header.  One small step for blogging, one HUGE leap for me:)  So...what do you think?  Do you like the blue? 

And guess what?  I've been overhauling my craft room this entire week.  I'll have pictures to share with you in a post tomorrow.  Shelves and bins, ladies.  Brace yourselves!!!  *giggle*  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

So Sweet...Describes Our Trip To Eagles' Training Camp

Hi there!  I know...what is it with me and the fuzzy pictures lately?  Ack!  Better luck next time, right?  Well here's another one with my new favorite set...I've made so many cards with this set already that it's almost embarrassing!  I'll never post all of them...promise:)  And speaking of promises, below are some pictures I took at Friday's morning session of the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp in Lehigh, Pennsylvania.  The husband and I had a great time on the trip.  The drive wasn't all that fun (horrible traffic) but the scenery was beautiful.  Here's a look through my windshield at the mountains surrounding Bethlehem, PA:  

Bethlehem is only five or six miles away from Allentown, and as we were driving up and seeing all of the Allentown road signs I kept hearing Billy Joel's song in my head.  Dang...now it's back again.  If I did it to you I apologize!

Um, yep.  It was overcast with the threat of "drenching downpours", if the weather forecasters were to be believed.  In this case, they were right.  Just our luck, no?  I'd been prepared to see a lot of fans in attendance...I'm told it's the most heavily attended training camp of all of the teams in the NFL.  But seriously - despite the weather there were tons of people there.  We had driven up on Thursday and spent the night so that we could get there early and secure a seat on the bleachers.  Practice didn't start until 8:10am, but the husband made me get up at 5:30.  Uh huh.  Wouldn't even let me go get a real breakfast, either.  Just grab something at the 'complementary' buffet at the hotel and go.  Shall we examine 'complementary'?  In my mind, considering what we paid for the room, it was an 'obligatory' breakfast buffet.  I digress...here's the offense on the field.  Please, contain your excitement.  What - you'd rather I was sharing photos from a trip to CHA?  Guess what?  Me too!!!  Back to the program...so we secured great parking and seats on the bleachers @ 7am.  And it was a good thing that the husband got me there early.  By 7:30am there was no room left on the bleachers, by 9am there was no room left to stand along the edges of the field, no room to walk at the bottom of the bleachers...I simply sat there and prayed that the rain would hold off and that I wouldn't have to use the restroom.  (Prayers were answered!)  The biggest disappointment for me was that I couldn't make it down the bleachers and through the crowd in time to get an autograph from my favorite sportswriter, Ray Didinger.  He is a member of the sportswriter's hall of fame and let me tell you:  when Ray speaks, people listen.  And with good reason!  If you ever want to learn about Philadelphia sports, check out what Ray's said and/or written.  And he seems like such a nice man, too.  He signed autographs and shook hands all the way down the sideline (hence the pen in his mouth).  Well...that's it for this girl's report from Eagles' Training Camp.  While I love my Philly sports, I love papercrafting just a teensy bit more.  I'm off to blurf to find pictures from CHA.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  Ink, cardstock and stamps all Papertrey, BasicGrey lemonade papers, Websters trim, Nesties, Papertrey buttons, SU tag corner punch, unk brads

Elephants For Lisa...or Doggie Dental Central?

Hi there!  Happy Tuesday to you...hope you're doing well.  And no, no need to adjust your monitor.  I did voluntarily use purple in these cards!!!  I made this set for another of my brunch girlfriends; she loves elephants:)  In fact, I bought this SU set just for the elephant so that I could eventually make something for Lisa.  And I paired the image with that sentiment on purpose...kinda tongue-in-cheek.  Elephants never forget!  Hah!  I crack myself up, at least. 

And would you believe that I've had to take Deuce to the vet four times in the month of June?  Leg problems, allergy problems, reaction to medication and now...an abscessed tooth! 

When I left the house yesterday he was fine.  When I returned from work he looked like this first picture.  I immediately thought 'abscess!'.   I also thought of a few choice words because I never budget for four vet visits in one month!!!  We got him into the vet within a couple of hours and we were even able to have him seen by our absolute favorite doctor in the practice.   It turns out that it's no big deal...treat with antibiotics and hope that's the end of it.  Well...I woke up this morning to find this pitiful thing next to me:

The entire side of his face is now swollen!  Yikes!  My poor little guy.  I think there's some homemade chicken and rice coming his way tonight:) 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink:  Papertrey true black and SU elegant eggplant

Cardstock:  Papertrey select white

Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye

Stamps:  SU (argh...it's a baby set...forget the name...sorry), Papertrey Everyday Classics (sentiment)

Other:  Labels Three nesties, Papertrey spring rain buttons, SU silver cording

Thursday Inspiration Photo

Hi there!  This morning I needed a little creative boost so I went searching through the photos still on my camera.  This one was too cute so I thought I'd share it with you in case you were also in need of inspiration on a rainy Thursday.  A couple of weeks ago I went to a local zoo with my nieces and nephews.  It was so fun to watch their eyes go round as saucers as they looked at the exhibits:)  And then we had a potluck picnic and would you believe I wasn't the only one who brought cold pizza as my contribution?  One of my sisters did, too!  I'm not entirely convinced that my mother found our contributions appropriate, lol!  Anyhow, if I experience my normal afternoon slump at work today I'm going to try to channel some of the excitement and enthusiasm that these three had that day at the zoo.  Hope you have a good day...thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

ps - see you tomorrow for the next Loonie Stampers Challenge.  It's Regan's turn and it's going to be fun!

Hello...And Easter, Part Two

  Hi there!  How are you doing?  I hope you had an enjoyable holiday weekend.  I know I did, though I'm suffering from a bit of holiday hangover today.  Not the alcohol kind...just the I'm pleasantly tired and holy cow I can't believe my house is dirty again kind.  We had a great time yesterday; everyone came over to our house to celebrate Easter.  I'm so lucky because my mom and sisters did the cooking.  All I had to do was prepare the 'venue' and do beverages and desserts.  And the nieces and nephews were so cute!  The twins were dressed up -  Jack had a suit and tie on!  What is it about a little boy in a suit that is just too cute for words?  And my sisters planned an egg hunt on our front lawn.  Of course, that meant that there were piles of eggs sitting out in the middle of the yard.  After all, the oldest grandchild isn't quite three yet:)  It was the first egg hunt in our family since my sisters and I were little.  So much fun!  And poor Deuce - he is not used to having little ones running around and lots of noise.  He's exhausted!  In fact, he's still upstairs in bed right now.  I suppose it's only polite if I go back up and keep him company, right?  *grins*  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink:  ranger antique linen distress ink; papertrey dark chocolate, ocean tides and spring moss

Cardstock:  papertrey white, lemon tart and spring moss

Stamps:  papertrey simple little things and beyond basic borders and polka dot basics (centers of focal piece circles)

Other:  circle and label three Nesties, sei buttons, martha stewart twine, piercing tool, my mind's eye patterned paper

Easter...Part One

Hi there!  Happy Saturday to you:)  I'm so pleased with myself that I have to share this with you.  I drove into the city yesterday all by myself.  Stop laughing!  I'm serious!  One of my quirks is that I am irrationally afraid of driving in city situations.  I freak out at the throught of missing a turn and becoming lost in a maze of one way streets.  Well, I put on my big girl panties yesterday and went for it.  Not only did I drive into the city (using the interstate, mind you) but I also found parking in a garage and managed to find my way back out of the city.  Are you asking yourself why I'd suddenly do this?  Easy answer:  baked goods from a famous four star hotel.  Yes, I cheated a bit and ordered all of the baked goods for Easter dinner.  (More on those later.)   I also ordered a bunch of cookies to give as Easter gifts.  This is a picture of the basket I put together for the husband.  Macaroons and sugar cookies.  He's going to love it.  I still have to put together and decorate the boxes for the nieces/nephews...I'll share pics of those tomorrow.  Oh - I sort of picked up something for myself: 

Chocolate-dipped macaroons.  Hell-o.  Don't you wish you were on my Easter list?!?  *giggles*  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Balance

Hi there!  Ever trip over a crack in the sidewalk and find yourself desperately flailing your arms in an attempt to regain your balance?  That's pretty much me these days.  I'm so out of balance it's a-mazing!!  I can't seem to get it all together - - it's like I have to pick just one thing to focus on and then gradually expand my list.  Right now I'm caught up at work and also current with my household chores (I think just heard some thuds as chins hit the floor...yes, my house is clean:)  but for the life of me I can't seem to catch up on my emails, blurfing and card-making.  Has this ever happened to you?  Well...I'm going to take a couple of days off from blogging so that I can dig through my emails and catch up with my online friends.  I've missed visiting all of their blogs...and maybe I can find some inspiration there, too!!  I'll be back this Friday 3/27 with my LSC post and my final guest spot for Courtney.  Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Recovery With A Twist Of Lyme

  Hi there...hope your Sunday is going well.  All is finally moving in the right direction around here.  Our little guy has given us quite a run for our money over the past 24 hours!  This is a picture of what he's doing now, a.k.a. recovering.  In six and a half years we'd never found a tick on Deuce.  It was a good run while it lasted:)  Long story short we found a tick on Deuce and thought it was no big deal.  Wrong!!!     

He developed all of the symptoms of Lyme disease but is now on the proper antibiotics.  Last night and this morning were just horrible.  I'm not ashamed to admit that I was crying when he was crying.  And I couldn't even hold  him because it hurt him too much to be touched!  Thank goodness the antibiotics have turned things around.  My little guy is walking around and getting into trouble again.  I can hear him upstairs right now getting into the box of my new Papertrey order.  I've never been happier...I think:)  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  back door, new doggie bed, lazy nap in the sunlight on a Sunday afternoon...priceless

I'll be back later this morning...

Hi all!  I'm trying to take pictures of my creations for today.  I'll be back later this morning with my LSC and my guest designer card for Courtney.  See you then!

 

M

Magic Monday

 Hello!  I'm back!  I took the weekend off from blogging...miss me?  I missed you.  But guess what?  See the white stuff all over today's card?  It's SNOW!  Yes...I'm having a snow day today.  To celebrate I took my card out onto the front porch to take the picture.  It's snowing and blowing...fun stuff!  The card isn't anything special, just a bunch of scraps I had laying around that I felt like putting to use.  But while I was out front I took some pictures of the snow so I can share with you.  Below is the view looking out from the front porch of my house.  I think it's neat to see pictures from others' homes.  And when done properly it doesn't give away any personal details. (Safety first!  Would you believe one of my blogging buddies had a stalker?  Scary!)    

And of course I was outside primarily so I could get Deuce to do his business.  Boy does that dog hate snow!  Here's a picture of him prancing around under the bushes, trying to use them for protection to avoid having snow blow on himself:

Yes, I do put a coat on him during cold weather.  Italian Greyhounds don't have thick coats/natural protection from cold.  He has a few coats but this one is his warmest one.  It's one of those quilted Lands End jackets.  What you can't see from this angle is that he's wearing a scarf, too.  Hey - he's my baby and it's cold outside!  I'm off to brew some more tea and head up to the craft room.  Enjoy your day - I know I'll be enjoying mine!  Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink:  Papertrey dark chocolate; Ranger antique linen

Cardstock:  Papertrey select white and kraft

Stamps:  Papertrey Beyond Basic Borders

Other:  Scor-pal, Wrights ribbon and ric rac, Papertrey pink patterns papers

Here's the recipe...go bake your own peanut butter kiss cookies!

  Hello!  Hope you're doing well.  It's the perfect Saturday around these parts...slept a little later than normal, I'm still in my jammies, it's bright and sunny weather...and I'm in my craft room!  I'll have a few cute things to share with you later, but for now I thought I'd pop on and give you the recipe for the cookies I baked the other night.  These were a HUGE hit.  HUGE.  I took this recipe from the Betty Crocker Bisquick Cookbook and it's really just too easy.  (What?  Did you think I do gourmet cooking?  Hah!  Like I'd spend that much time outside of my craft room...)

Ingredients:

1 can (14oz.) sweetened condensed milk

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

2 cups Original Bisquick

1 tsp vanilla

sugar for coating (I needed 1/2 cup)

About 45 Hershey's Kisses (I used the milk chocolate ones filled with peanut butter)

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Stir milk and peanut butter in large bowl until smooth.  Stir in Bisquick and vanilla.  Shape dough into 1.25" balls.  Roll in sugar.  {Maria tip:  use a small but deep bowl to both make it easier/quicker to coat the dough balls and to reduce the amount of sugar wasted.}  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until bottoms of cookies just begin to brown.  Immediately press chocolate kiss into the top of each cookie.  Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack; cool.

Give this a try...you won't be disappointed! 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Until next time...M

 

I Was Tagged...

Hi there!  My good friend Regan tagged me to play in a little game...you go into your picture files and post the sixth picture in the sixth folder and explain what the heck it is.  Well...this was the picture on my computer:   

That's the husband, our dog Deuce, and our nephew, Brian.  This picture was from back in December, on that Saturday we babysat him while his parents worked.  Not having children of our own, I tend to stress a little bit and fuss way too much when we're left in charge of caring for little ones.  Luckily for me the husband is a natural.  Deuce on the other hand...well, he certainly doesn't like sharing our attention!  This was taken while the husband was teaching baby Brian the finer points of college football as they watched the Army vs Navy game.  I have a whole string of pictures documenting our day together!  Yep...I was that ridiculous. 

Now I'm supposed to tag six other people to play, but it seems almost all of my friends have already been tagged!  Sheesh. I guess I'm just bringing up the rear :)  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I'll be playing in the craft room tonight...finally feeling crafty again.  Hooray!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

30 something Italian man, 6yr old Italian Greyhound, 7 month old nephew, La-Z-Boy sofa and a Sony tv w/HD football game...priceless

Philadelphia's Secret Weapons

  Hi everyone!  How are you doing?  All is well here and I've been enjoying a lot of family time.  (Translation:  I'll be back tomorrow morning to resume my normal card posting schedule!)  I just had to share this picture with you tonight, especially since the Eagles went on to win their playoff game today.  Jack and Grace wore their Eagles outfits!  I'm convinced that's why the Eagles won.  How stinkin' cute are these two?!?  Nope, I'm not biased.  Not one bit.  I'm definitely not the aunt that went crazy buying Eagles gear for them.  And their mother is not a sports fan, so for her to be aware that today was a playoff game and to put them in the outfits so that I could see them...well, I really appreciated and enjoyed it.  Hope you do, too!  Thanks as always for stopping by!

Until next time...M