Wild Wyoming Girl

Another Spellbinders blog frenzy for CHA!!

Here's all the details!

CHA Summer 2009 Blog Frenzy

Yes, that’s right! Spellbinders is doing it again, and it’s bigger and its better than before! You didn’t think we could stop with the new Pendant Collection did you? Oh no! We’ve got 17 more new Spellbinders products to reveal from July 9 – 22, 2009. And we want to share them with you!

Each day we will direct you to one of our talented Designer’s blogs where you will be introduced to our latest and greatest Spellbinders Die Templates. Enter to win by sending an email to the address listed in the blog. Daily winners will be chosen randomly from eligible entries. But wait, there’s more!

This time the prize is progressive! On Day 1, we give away the Day 1 release. On Day 2 we give away the Day 1 and Day 2 releases! The prizes grow each and every day for 14 days!! By entering each day from each blog, you become eligible to win the Grand Prize… COMPLETE set of CHA Summer 2009 Die Templates and Impressabilities releases, a total of 29 products with a retail value of more than $560.00!!

Check out this line up of talented Designers on the dates noted and then enter for your chance to win:

7/9 Debbie Olson

7/10 Michelle Wooderson

7/11 Karen Hunsaker

7//12 Kazan Clark

7/13 Linda Duke

7/14 Heidi Blankenship

7/15 Kimberly Crawford

7/16 Julie Overby

7/17 Sherry Cheever

7/18 Debbie Seyer

7/19 Lesa Rapp

7/20 Becca Feeken

7/21 Jennifer Davis

7/22 Keri Lee Sereika

See the entire line of Spellbinders products on the Spellbinders’ website.

I love you because......

 

"Guess what cutie pie....I love you because....yougive me lots of hugs and kisses.  You make me smile.  I love you because you are so kind and thoughtful.  You have a creative soul and a big heart.  You bring out the best in everyone around you.  I love you....mom 2009"

I am in love with Just Rite Stamps.  I used JustRite Stamps- Celebrations Demi Phrases set, Damask Monogram Kit and 2" Wood Stamper.  The stamps coordinate so well with the Spellbinders dies and are so versatile!

I used these Spellbinders dies: S4-124 Classic Scallop Circle Large, S5-006 Mega Nestabilities Curved Rectangles,  and S4-127 Classic Scallop Square Lg.

I love the gorgeous new Chatterbox paper and embellishments.

Enjoy your day!

Lovely spring layout...

 

This layout is the third piece I'd like to show you in this ensemble.  It's titled "Lovely"

I have always loved this picture of Arianna Faith.  We had been golfing all day and she rolled back down in the shaded grass to rest.  The black and white picture really captures her spirit I think. 

I enlarged the photo and cropped it.  It was a non typical size, so I cut 4 Labels One nestability die, and created a mat for the large photo.  I love using the dies for backgrounds.  The possibilities are endless! 

I used a deckled rectangle die for the journaling box.  I stamped it with a flower background stamp by Hero Arts.  Wow - that stamp is just gorgeous!

I also cut and embossed the Illumination Borderability Grand die in white and added a few pieces of bling.  It peeks out from behind the matted photo and helps lead the eye to the journaling.

I also used the flower bouquet miniabilities to add some details.  The title are grungeboard letters by Tim Holtz, with white crackle paint applied to them.  I love to use my Dymo label maker for journaling as it has high contrast with the black and white and a very crisp font.

Of course the layout wouldn't be complete without using Clearsnap Colorbox fluid chalk ink, and My Minds Eye penny lane paper.

Hope you enjoyed this ensemble.  Have a great day.

Spring Monogram Card...

 

I love using Spellbinders dies to get a layered effect.  I used the Peony nestability die in 2 different sizes for the large layered flower.  I used the scalloped circle die to cut an opening in the smaller peony shape.  I also used the scallop circle die for the white center piece.  I used big glue dots to add dimension to the layered flower.

I also used the Just Rite Damask Borders Deluxe Set stamps.  They are so fabulous!  I use them all the time.

I used white ribbon, that I colored with my Copic Markers.  I also used paper from My Mind's Eye - the penny lane collections.

Stacking Spellbinders dies to make an altered tin....

  

Here's a project I made quickly! 

The tin is by Melissa Frances.  It comes in a neutral off-white tone with a mini circle album tucked inside. 

I altered the tin lid by using scalloped circle nestabilities for the bottom layer.  Then I cut 3 different sizes of the nested flower die and used the flower bouquet minabilities for the center.  I curled the edges of the 3 middle layers just slightly, then glued the stack together.

I cut out a tag and another flower bouquet minabilities, inked the edges and stamped my name on the tag.

I used an classic scalloped oval die and white cardstock for the top layer of the mini album cover.  I stamped with Just Rite Harmony Classic Oval II stamps to complete the project!  If you haven't seen how wonderful these stamps match the Spellbinders nestabilities dies...You must check them out!

This was a super fun and quick project to make!

Bella....

 

This is Bella - our new kitty.  We think she is a mix between a Russian Blue and a Tabby.  She is around 9 mths old.

Let me start by saying that my hubby and I never thought of ourselves as "Cat People".  They seemed too fussy, too particular....He and my youngest were also very allergic to cats.  So we never, in a million years thought we would have a cat.

That was...until the day this little kitty kept coming by our house.  She would snuggle up, purrrrrrrrr, meow.......then leap through the air trying to catch a bug that flew by.  Aaron didn't seem allergic to her, and Mackenzie could hold her and not actually blow snot everywhere! LOL 

The kitty came by morning and night...no collar....no tags.  We decided the smart thing to do would be to take her to the Shelter to see if anyone claimed her.  We called the night before she was ready to be adopted, and no one had picked her up.  We bought all the necessary cat "stuff" and the not so necessary cat "stuff".  The girls were sooooo excited! 

We called the shelter the next day......and her owner had just been there to pick her up.  Oh were we disappointed.  We packed up the kitty stuff and sulked.

The kitty came back the next morning.....we decided she loved us....we let her stay the night....she didn't want to leave.  We called the shelter....they said they could pick her up, give her owner another ticket........we didn't know what to do.  For about a week she came and went, we fed her, played with her, snuggled with her, and we debated on just keeping her.  We talked with other "cat people".

We decided if she came again.  We would keep her.  We didn't feel the owner was being responsible or caring for her. 

She didn't come the next day, or the next....we didn't see her for almost 2 weeks.  We feared something "bad" had happened to her.  My hubby made a last ditch effort to find her and went to the shelter.  He glanced through the dog section....then on to the cat section...big cats, newborn kitties......and there she was!  She came up to the cage door and licked at his fingers.  She had been picked up near our house, and would be up for adoption in 4 days.

So, thankfully on Tuesday of this week.....she became our kitty...legally, happily, and cheerfully.  Sometimes animals just pick you....isn't it amazing what happens when you're open to it.

 

Spellbinders is about to release new dies!!.....

Spellbinders will be revealing The Pendant Collection, a new line up of die templates, with an eight day Blog Frenzy starting June 22. The collection includes eight (8) Shapeabilities Pendants and eight (8) coordinating Borderabilities.

S4-204 Fleur de Lis Pendant Shapeabilities - $24.99
S4-213 Fleur de Lis Pendant Borderabilities - $19.99
June 22, 2009 - Becca Feekan

S4-205 Eyelet Pendant Shapeabilities - $24.99
S4-214 Eyelets Pendant Borderabilities - $19.99
June 23, 2009 - Debbie Olson

S4-209 Tulips Pendant Shapeabilities - $24.99
S4-211 Tulips Pendant Borderabilities - $19.99
June 24, 2009 - Michelle Wooderson

S4-203 Contemporary Hearts Pendant Shapeabilities - $24.99
S4-212 Contemporary Hearts Pendant Borderabilities - $19.99
June 25, 2009 - Keri Lee Sereika

S4-210 Lattice Pendant  Shapeabilities - $24.99
S4-218 Lattice Pendant Borderabilities - $19.99
June 26, 2009 - Sherry Cheever

S4-208 In Spades Pendant Shapeabilities - $24.99
S4-217 In Spades Pendant Borderabilities - $19.99
June 27, 2009 - Heidi Blankenship

S4-206 Renaissance Hearts Pendant Shapeabilities - $24.99
S4-215 Renaissance Hearts Pendant Borderabiliities - $19.99
June 28, 2009 - Linda Duke

S4-207 Kaleidoscope Pendant Shapeabilities - $24.99
S4-216 Kaleidoscope Pendant Borderabilities - $19.99
June 29, 2009 - Jennifer Davis

So check back daily to see the designs of this amazing and innovative new die template collection!
You won’t be disappointed!

Our 10th Anniversary....

Today is the day Aaron and I celebrate our 10 year Anniversary.  It honestly doesn't feel like 10 years.

The first time I met him was at work, in a tough meeting I was facilitating.  He was rolling his eyes, making comments under his breath, sighing, leaning back in his chair.  So, by the end of the meeting I had had enough of him....and went to talk to his supervisor about how rude he was during the meeting! LOL  Come to find out, he was frustrated with someone else in the meeting and how they were treating me.  I came to respect his experience, opinion and philosophy at work.  Everyone did really.  We worked together a great deal helping people with disabilities.

We became friends.  We started to date.  He actually still wanted to date me when I was going through a really hard time in my life - was he nuts?!  I found out later, that he had pawned his guitar to take me on our first date to a wonderful restaurant.  (And some of you know how much he loves his guitars.....Is that just the sweetest thing ever!)

Six months after we started dating we bought a house together in Colorado.  Two years after we were together we got married in our favorite place in the world.  Yellowstone National Park.  We were 27.  It was a small ceremony with family.  We spent a week there on our honeymoon.  I'll never forget it.  We hiked, took pictures, read, fished, had long romantic dinners, sipped wine and smoke cigars on the Old Faithful Inn balcony, help hands and kissed for hours. 

 

Since that day we have moved from Colorado to Iowa, and he began his career as a Conductor on the Union Pacific Railroad.  We had 2 baby girls, who are now 7 and 5. I stayed home for 3 1/2 years with the girls, then returned to counselor work.  We moved to Wyoming to be closer to family.  We've lived in 3 houses - 2 new, 1 over 100 years old.  We ordered our first brand new truck from the dealership.  We still haul around an old Volkswagon Karmen Ghia, whose restoration got put on hold when we started having kids.  We lost our longtime pet - Klondyke - who was 14 years old.  We still have our lab - River - 14 yrs old to love and snuggle with.  We have made some wonderful friends along the way. 

We have laughed a lot, been stubborn a lot, appreciated a lot, talked a lot, took "a leap of faith" a lot, changed our plans and our minds a lot, but most of all....we have loved a lot.

My girls still ask me to try on my wedding dress now and then....they ask me to tell them about the time their dad and I got married....and so I do.  We look at all the pictures and sometimes pull out the video.  They both talk about how they wished they could have been there - LOL :)

It's a day I'll never forgot, and love to remember again each year.  I'm so very blessed to have married the love of my life.

KIDS PROJECTS! - Teacher monogram gifts...

I've always loved the monograms made with crayon or colored pencils.  My girls and I decided to make our own version as Teacher thank you gifts.

 

A is for Mrs. Arment.......B is for Mrs. Butler

We knew their favorite colors and used that for the patterned background paper.  Mrs. Butler also had butterflies in her classroom, so we chose the Flying Beauties Spellbinders die, and the Daisy die for Mrs. Arment.

Here's a quick tutorial of how we made the project:

 

We purchased 8x10 black frames and 2 boxes of 24 Crayola crayons.  We selected each teacher's patterned paper in a shade of their favorite color.  We also used the paper trimmer and E600 glue with a fine tip on the end of it.

 

Next we used our handy dandy Leatherman tool with the serrated blade to cut many of the crayons in half.  I found the best way to preplan is to look at a Helvetica type letter on the computer in large font to get an idea of what lengths you might need for each section of the letter.  Rolling the crayon while you cut will give you a clean cut instead of tearing the paper around the crayon.

    

Arianna Faith assembled the crayons for me while I did the cutting.  The B was easier for us to do since we found a reference picture on-line.  Once we had an idea of how to lay them out, we began to glue each crayon down with E6000 industrial strength glue.  (you can purchase it at most hardware or discount stores)

 

E6000 glue takes a few hours to dry, so make sure to allow time for this.  Take out glass and mat board from each frame, then glue the patterned paper to the backing board with extra strength double sided tape.  I use a tape gun I got from Rocky Mountain Framing and Gallery.

 

Get out your Spellbinders Wizard, dies, ribbon and Colorbox fluid chalk ink.  Cut and emboss your chosen dies out of white paper.  Use a sponge or other applicator to apply the chalk ink, using the die as a stencil.

 

Adhere your die cuts and ribbon with E6000.  I tucked the ribbon under the inside of the frame for a cleaner look.  We used the fluid chalk ink on the edges of the tag die cut and hand wrote "Mrs. Arment" and "Mrs. Butler" with a COPIC multiliner pen. (gorgeous results with those pens!)

Hope you enjoyed our Teacher Monogram gift project!  Have a great weekend.

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO...

We always have to visit The Stanley Hotel when we make a trip to Estes.  We love the history, the romance...and of course check the mirrors for the word "redrum" (murder spelled backwards) written in lipstick.  I know you know what movie I am talking about don't you?  Stephen King stayed at The Stanley Hotel and wrote "The Shining" while staying there.  Hubby and I stayed there many years ago and I didn't sleep a wink!  I kept hearing noises and the floor creaking.  I was scared out of my mind! LOL

The Stanley is a little more commercialized lately...you even have to pay $5.00 just to get up to the hotel.  But, they have an excellent view of the mountains, a gorgeous hotel, breathtaking waterfall, excellent food, and a wonderful coffee shop in the basement.  It's definately worth stopping for.

My mom and Dan were married in the mountains not far from here.  We had dinner at the Stanley afterwards, then they rode off in a horse drawn carriage.  It was all very romantic.  During our visit this time, we spotted a bride and groom.

The Stanley Hotel

Mackenzie and Arianna

 

Front veranda..door opens to wedding reception hall

 

I had to sneak a pic of the bride and groom.  Our girls thought she was so pretty!

 The Stanley Steamer.

Have a great week!  More pictures and more projects coming in a few days!