Been Busy Lately...

Hi! I haven't posted in over a week! I am back at school and life seems to just go so fast when I am working! Yesterday, today and tomorrow we have parent/teacher conferences, which have been interesting to say the least... Last night we had about 7 in a row and didn't leave school till after 9 pm, so it was straight to bed for me when I got home, I was exhausted!
Tuesday I went to a job fair, and the job hunt continues for an elementary position. I met some new contacts and hopefully will be called for a few interviews from local districts (2 are just about for sure right now, yay!). I only have 2 weeks of student teaching left...ahh! The kids keep asking me why I have to leave, its hard for them to understand being young.
This weekend I was supposed to go away for scrapping with my Mom and Grandma, but drama has happened, I don't know the full story yet, but looks like we aren't going anymore...I'll find out more details soon.
Today I got my Cuttlebug Swap cards in the mail, some cute stuff! I will have to post a picture later on...

Spring Break Extended!

Hey there! Well, it seems that New Jersey is in a state of emergency from all the flooding that happened because of the rain! I was all set to go back to my kiddos at school today (even spent hours doing my planning for this week) and I was in the shower, when my Dad says that my co-op called to say school was cancelled because of flooding! I had JUST stepped in the shower too, so I turned it off and quickly blow dried my hair so it wasn't soaking wet. I went to tell my Mom and she asks me why I didn't just finish showering....umm...didn't think of it! Oh well, I was awake, so I just laid in bed and read a bit and then showered (again!). On the plus side, I finished my lesson for my observation on Friday, which I would of had to do tonight before Sara came over for the CMT Music Awards (yay!). And now, it's 2:00pm already and I have yet to do any stamping or scrapping! I am going to work on these neat post-it noteholders that I found a tutorial on from Running with Scissors blog. Off to try it out....

Here are some pictures of my scrap room (as of Saturday), at any time it may be neater or messier, depending on my mood! Haha, just ask Sara or my Mom! TFL!

Wall of stamps....yum!

Here is my desk (above), and my Mom's desk (below)... Her desk is usually spotless, but she was working on a project during these photos...(just joking, stuff piles up on her desk as much as on my desk)

Relaxing Week in Review...

Wow it's Saturday already! I had a nice, relaxing week off from school, although, honestly, I am ready to go back to my kiddos, I do miss them and school (I know its weird!). I didn't get much stamping or scrapping done this week, I just wasn't much in the mood, or not feeling creative, but that's alright. I know I will want to scrap and stamp when I can't but I'll make time I'm sure. Last night I went to a Partylite Candle Party at Sara's house, with her family. I never laughed so hard in my life, honestly! I had tears coming out of my eyes, these ladies are hysterical! I've got to say my favorite fragrance will always be orange kumquat (haha, Sara!). Good times!

Today, Sara and I went to the Memories Expo in Somerset, NJ. It was crowded and those dang baby strollers were EVERYWHERE! (Note to self: Leave kids at home when going to a scrapping show!) The show was smaller this year and didn't have as many vendors, but we both managed to spend some money (don't we always?). My favorite find was the Paper Cut, with precut cards and envelopes, and they have a website!! www.thepapercut.com. Can't wait to check it out.

I've got some new things to share....here is a picture of the Stamp and Scrap University technique book I made last weekend, with an example of what is inside, we made 24 of these technique cards!

Oh, by the way, I added the ribbon to the cover, in....blue and brown, my fav colors!

I've also included a picture of the chipboard book I made at Jen Starr's class about a week and a half ago. It is using her new chippies chipboard accents and her new paper line. It also uses Adirondak Inks, which where added with a brayer (fun!! I've started my collection of the colors, and there are 24+, I'm on my way with about 6! haha) I plan on using this album for my college graduation, which takes place in under 1 month!! The title on the cover says "Imagination at work", I figured it was fitting!

I'll post more later on...I've got some picture of my scrap room!!

Well, off to do my planning for the week. I am being observed on Friday for a problem solving strategy lesson...I hope I can understand my notes from a week ago!

Swap ATC's and Cards

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter! We spent our Easter at my Grandparent's house, eating ham and all of the trimmings...yummy! Today, I ran some errands and got around to making my cards for a swap that I joined. I realized that the due date was approaching quickly! I had never participated in swaps before and I had signed up for one. I told Sara about it, and next thing I knew I had signed up for 6! I think I went a bit crazy somewhere in there! They are sure fun, I just can't wait to get back all the other creations. This card was for the Cuttlebug/SU Card Swap, and I tried one of the new techniques I learned: brushed bleaching, ohhh I LOVE the results!

This card is one I created awhile ago, for a different swap. It was using the new Polka Dots and Paisley stamp set. My Mom had gotten it in December, but I hadn't used it before this, and I hadn't realized how cute the images are. As you probably know, I LOVE paisley, so it was a match!

This last creation is an ATC card, which I had never done before this. It was fun and quick, I think I convinced Anna to do the next meet-up group with the ATC theme, which I am excited for! They are so fun! The swap was anything flowers, so I used the new You Make Me Happy set. The ribbon is stamped with that sentiment, although it is a bit hard to see.

More Creations...

What a great day today was! I went to a Stamp and Scrap University workshop, where we learned 24 different stamping techniques. Some I already knew, others were new to me, like coloring with bleach, and one I featured here that I made tonight, using stamping swirl, which is super simple and cool looking, using Bitty Backgrounds, apply pressure to your paper and twist your hand (as if you are opening a jar) and lift, voila you have a neat swirly effect! Go try it! (My crab looks sickly, but it scanned weird, the coloring on the actual card looks much better!)

Here are some other samples I made last night....I am really enjoying my Cuttlebug embossing folders! I teased Sara all night long with the "Hey cupcake..." line, it's my new phrase I guess! I pulled out my brayer and glossy cardstock for the thank you card, I love this resist look!

Happy Easter!

Stamping Crazy!

Been busy all week, but today is my official first day of Spring Break! Yay! I have today off plus ALL next week! I will be stamping crazy (as well as putting finishing touches on my portfolio plus sending out more resumes)! Tonight I have been creating some cards using this color combo: Pixie Pink, Sage Shadow, and Buckaroo Blue (I love that name!) Check them out here! In the first card, I used my walkabella stamp and saying, the second card is using Simply Said, an older Stampin' Up set which I love. I also used some of my new ribbon (which was sooooo hard to use, but I figure if I use it, I can buy more, right?!) I also used Splitcoast Stampers sketch challenges for both, the walkabella uses #118, and the Simply Cherish uses #117. Go check them out, they are lots of fun, and there are TONS!

Tomorrow, my Mom, Sara and I are going to a "stamp and scrap university" sponsored by my Mom's Stampin' Up upline. We are learning tons of techniques and other goodies, I am very excited for it! I will update tomorrow with more details!!

Just finished these pages up tonight. I designed them for our meet-up group project which we will be creating tomorrow night. We decided to make a 2 page 12x12 page layout, mainly using Quickutz. All flowers are quickutz dies, as is font and library card. Paper is Wild Asparagus and Autumn Leaves. Can you believe I made this entire layout with only 5 sheets of paper and some ribbon with lots of paper left? Gotta love quickutz! I hope the ladies enjoy it tomorrow night! TFL!

I just got home today and the most exciting thing was waiting for me! I had joined in 2 ribbon shares from Jody over at Confessions of a Ribbon Addict (go check her out) and they were waiting for me when I got home today. They came so quick and are gorgeous (funny, that is one of my kids spelling words this week :) ) I had to share how beautiful they are, they are from May Arts and I got the skinny stitched and the grosgrain polka dot. Love them (can you tell?) I've got to go play around with them now!