some Saturday cards

This first card is for my sister's Birthday (7/4) and it fulfills MOJO Monday sketch challenge

Card stock by Stampin' Up

printed paper from scrap stash

ribbon from stash

Brads rec'd as RAK

Prima Flowers

Designer label punch by Stampin' Up

glue lines (to ripple the ribbon) pop-up glue dots in order to adhere the 2 rectangles

Digi stamp by Designed 2 Delight(on side bar--Delightful Inspiration)

Bic Mark its!

Marvy Calligraphy pen

This is a card for OWH...a child's Birthday card. 

This card fulfills 2sketches4you sketch challenge.

Card stock for card by Stampin' Up

Glitter cardstock and printed papers from scrap stash

Balloon brads rec'd as RAK

epoxy sticker by Lil' davis Designs

Stickers by Mrs. Grossman

Top Half circle made by 3" scallop punch by Marvy uchida

full circle under that is 2.75" circle punch by EK Success

Stamp by All night media

Ink by Stampin' up

Fine point sharpie

Friday is Dear So and So day

it is Friday...that means it is time for DEAR SO and SO  join us :)

Dear Home Depot Paint dept.;
Thanks very much for helping me find the shades of Wisteria to repaint our master bedroom.
You did so pleasantly, and rather quickly. I appreciate that. Especially after the snowthrower debacle earlier this year!

a happy customer
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Dear Home Depot Carpeting dept.;
Thank you for matching the lightest shade of the wisteria, being used for the ceiling in the MB and for the hallway, entire color. to a nice plush carpet by Mohawk. (we won't be ready for this for at least a month or so) but at least now I know what to come in and ask for.

a happy customer
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Dear AC Moore;
Thank you SOOO very much for having some really awesome items on clearance I won't mention how much I spent, but I saved over $190.00...Most is for me, some is going in the box for Future Blog giveaways.  I also bought new Honey Bee scissors and a big thing of Prima Flowers, nice treat!

A very happy customer
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Dear new kitten Maggie,
You tested negative for tape worms, so IF your no stop eating (through everything) doesn't end soon you'll be heading to the shelter. High Metabolism or not--NO CATS on the COUNTERS!!

Grandma
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Dear daughter Amanda,
You need to start doing a better job of training your kitten, PLEASE buy a SQUIRT BOTTLE!!
Maggie will be heading out, if her chewing through packaging to get to food doesn't end.

Mom
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Dear Body,
Man, you really need to start being able to sleep, SLEEP  not this dozing for 20-30 minutes crap, and then awake, repeat etc.  PLEASE try harder tonight.

The brain and other organs that need to replenish cells
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This concludes this week's version of Dear So & So

Post-birthday 5?Friday

Rules for 5QF: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post. Answer them, then c'mon back and link up! If you don't have a blog, but would like to play along, feel free to leave your answers in the comments of this post, or any post along the way!

Questions for Friday, June 25th

1. Do you know how to play a musical instrument?

2. What is your pet peeve while driving?

3. Would you rather have a housekeeper or unlimited spa services?

4. Is there a song that you hear that will take you back to the moment, like a junior high or high school dance?

5. What song best represents your life right now?

-------------------------------------------

1. Do you know how to play a musical instrument?

not really, not any longer...perhaps the recorder ...I wish I knew how to play the violin, I love violin and cello music!

2. What is your pet peeve while driving?

other drivers using their cell phones...how ever did we survive without them, ugh!

3. Would you rather have a housekeeper or unlimited spa services?

HOUSEKEEPER hands down, I was supposed to get one after I started working full time in my field, but there was still rooms under construction and rooms that were like storage, and I had 2 kids moving out then moving back in etc...so it never happened. I HATE, HATE, HATE housework! Now that I am disabled there is only so much I can do anyway...we need a slightly smaller house, and a housekeeper!

4. Is there a song that you hear that will take you back to the moment, like a junior high or high school dance?

"I Want to Know What Love is" by Foreigner always makes me think of the early days of my hubby and I.  Other Foreigner, Boston, and Aerosmith songs take me back to some HS memories of a group I hung out with for a while and the fun we had the summer of my junior year!

5. What song best represents your life right now?

"Burning down the House" by Talking Heads

You can read other neat answers by joining Mama M on 5 crooked halos

Friday cards

Here is a card for Friday sketchers and OWH Stars n Stamps:

 Card stock, including pre made card--DCWV

Printed paper rec'd as RAK

Digital Image by Stamping Boutique

Marvy calligraphy pen

Bic Mark its!

SU red ink

misc. transparent star ribbon

This card is for Designed to Delight Using this weeks free image from Delightful Inspirations

Card Stock-- pre made card by DCWV

Printed paper rec'd as a RAK

Misc scrap mint card stock, white eyelets, pink ribbon & green dew drops

Image and Sentiment By Designed to Delight

Bic Mark Its!

Mint Ink-Retired SU

This card is for Unscripted Sketches:
They added a secondary challenge to make it black & white because last Saturday was "national eat an Oreo day"

Card Stock, Ink and Sentiment all Stampin' Up
Printed papers from DCWV
Punch, Martha Stewart Garden Trellis
Black gems by My Minds Eye
Misc. Foam tape (under sentiment) and black ribbon

This card is for Sketch Saturday:

Card is a pre made by DCWV
Red C S and Printed paper out of scrap stash
Velveteen flower and bling brads by K & co.

Stamps, sentiment, markers, and ink by Stampin' Up
Circle with blossoms digi stamp by Bird Designs

Alphabe-thursday..."W"

I Was an Aunt for the first time at the age of 10.5. After 2 years my niece had a sister. I used to spend a lot of time With my sister and her family, especially With the girls, I Was a young babysitter. We used to Watch  "Sesame Street" a lot.  A feW years later (When I Was 17) I was also given a nepheW by my brother. (I had another nepheW in here also)  My own first child Was born in 1982.   "Sesame Street" Was still going strong, and many of the old songs and things Were still on. and it just happens that the "W song" has stuck with me all these years, so today I share it With you.

Today in my Memory..."Sesame Street" is brought to you by the Letter "W"

enjoy....








for more great "W" posts...go to Jenny's Place

Monday...muse working on cards...THERAPY :)

Card making continued

This Card is a sketch challenge for Sweet Sketch Wednesday:

Printed Card Stock for card-- Junkitz (rec'd as RAK)

Printed Origami paper rec'd as RAK

Misc. Scraps of card stock (some shimmery, some shiny)

Stamp by Hero Arts

Ink-Black Stazon, mini flower brad

Yellow flower-Prima, other flower brand unknown

This card is made with the Digi Stamp "Gorilla" from  Stretch n Bubbles:

Pre made card by DCWV

Printed paper rec'd as RAK

Misc. buttons, leaf and Foam tape(double layer under sentiment)

Cats eye fluid chalk ink

Prismacolor pencils and Prisma blending pencil

Prima Flower

Sentiment is digi stamp by Digital Doodling (on side bar)

This last card fulfills no challenges, it is just a thank you card for my nice neighbors that helped us out after the fire and during the "week from hell" (no power)    EDIT!!!!!!!!! I just found out this card does fulfill a challenge over at Sentimental Sundays (on sidebar)

Black Card Stock by Stampin' Up, White by Georgia Pacific

Printed paper by DCWV

Digital stamp "Teapot Cheer" by Designed to Delight (on side bar--Delightful Inspiration)

Digital Sentiment by Raindrop Echo Designs

Prismacolor pencils and Prisma blending pencil

Flowers by Prima

Stickles

5 Question Friday

 

 

1. What is your favorite thing about summertime?

Longer days, A/C to help filter the pollen. Cooking outside on the grill(less clean-up)

Watermelon, salads, swimming, or more aptly titled--floating upper half on a raft at the creek or lake...or if we happen to be at a friend's or coworkers with a pool. Visiting the famous Boardwalk at least once. Roasting marshmallows!

2. What is your ideal retirement location (if money didn't matter)?

Two places...the Carolinas in the Winter and New England or Upper Mid-West in the Summer(Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming)

 

3. Do you live in the same town you grew up in?

 No, but I am still in the same state...NJ

 

4. What nervous habit did you have as a child that you kicked to the curb before becoming an adult?  well, I would say Nail-biting, but I still do it on and off...when I am anxious.  so the 2nd choice would be touching everything, I remember my mother constantly telling me to stop touching stuff while out in the stores etc.(when very young)

5. What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you while on the job?

 It was my first F/T MRI position, and it was my second day of work, my 2 colleagues and I went to get coffee, during a "Lull" in the schedule in the afternoon. I was wearing white scrub pants (but a colorful top and jacket). When we got out of the elevator, I changed the way of was carrying my coffee cup, instead of my hand being around the cup, I was  carrying it from above, with my fingers under the rim. All of a sudden the cup just dropped straight down, leaving the lid in my hand, the cup hit the floor and all the coffee splashed straight up ALL over my white pants.  I had almost 2 more hours of work left. and an almost 2 hour commute home...at least washing them immediately with some added Oxi-clean it came out of the pants. (I have to say, I have never had much luck with Oxi-clean on anything else, except for blood and coffee)

 

 

read other answers at Mama M's

Friday--Dear So and So

I have sooo much to catch up on just on the blogging part of my life (since being without power for 8 days) then there is swaps, laundry, cleaning, and getting ready to assist with the gutting of Tom's room so we can start over, and the ripping up of the MB and Hallway carpet, and going to buy paint! (I am going with the color of Wisteria for MB walls and a much paler purple almost a tinted white for the ceiling, and I hope to find something like it for the carpet...we'll see.


so onto Dear So & So:

Dear Amanda, I appreciate the call you made to the West Creek office of the Electric company, which seemed to be more on the ball than the main corporate office!  I also appreciate you taking me out to the store the other night, after dinner. Love you, Mom

Dear Tom, I appreciate all the help you have been giving to your Dad this past wretched week! Love you, mom

Dear Ron, Thank you for soo NOT totally freaking out during this craziness!  I know it was frying your every nerve, but you held it together great! I Love You! xoxo

Dear Tom & Amanda, I did NOT appreciate having to be a sparring ref. during dinner out in public, I do not think your GF appreciated it either, Tom. Amanda for you to use such language while you could clearly see a table with 2 small children in front of us totally mortified me. NO ONE would ever guess that you are really both well over the age of 15, if going on hearing you only.(T-24, A-23)  You both need to grow up already and give up this stupid sibling competition...who gets more, who gets more praise, who gets more affection, who gets more trust, who is sneakier, who is the liar, who gets in more trouble.  I have had to deal with this since you were both walking, ENOUGH ALREADY!!!, your on-the-verge-of-crazy mother

Dear Christopher, what you did to my daughter was waay wrong and the coward's way out. I am now angry at myself for considering you brave over a week ago. Grow up and grow a set! be a man, tell the truth, don't lead people on. Also, just because your parents are prudy and reserved doesn't make our family crazy! We are just more animated, remember...a father with ADD and Diabetic mood swings, a mother with ADHD and Post-traumatic depression and Post-traumatic Anxiety, plus your girl, or X girl---ADHD and her brother--ADHD and ODD...so yea, we can get loud and proud!

Dear O'Malley Family, Again we can never thank you enough for being there for us, during this traumatic period.

Dear Kitties, I am soo glad none of you were injured or got lost due to the fire! I'd miss you terribly, as you are the ones that spend the most time with me.


go here for more DEAR SO & SO

A little somethin' creative(ongoing post for Friday & Saturday)

This card is for Friday Sketcher's and it also fits for OWH Stars & Stamps request for Masculine cards.(last Wednesday) and OWH Stars & Stamps request for BLING this wednesday!

This is Cool Cat:

Digi stamp & sentiment by Bugaboo digi stamps

Bic Mark its! & gold paint pen

Gold Metallic ribbon from stash, LUSH black rhinestones by My Mind's Eye

Printed paper rec'd as RAK, Gold Mica C S by California Paper company(crumpled and inked),

Always Artichoke C S by Stampin' Up(crumpled), Dusty Durango C S by Stampin' Up

Stampin' Up Inks: Dusty Durango and Rich Razzleberry

Misc: sponge dauber and paper file/sander

and for 2sketches4U This sketch was designed by Laura:

here is Chocolate Chip friends!

Plum C S by Stampin' Up, very pale Lavender strip-unknown, floral paper-RAK,
White C S--Georgia Pacific
Cat's Eye fluid chalk inks...Warm Violet & Azurite

Misc. Fancy Fibers

Digital Images by Tiddly Inks


OK 2 more!!

Here is my card for Stars n Stamps sketch 21, midweek throw down--bling. 
It is also for Wink Wink Ink, The challenge is to use at least 2 of the following and of course one of their digi images, ok here is the list you had to use at least 2, I used 3:
W...Water Colors (I used Twinkling H20s)
I...Inked Edges (which I certainly did)
N...Nestabilities or Punches (I used my SU square punch)
K...Kraft C S, Tan (this one I did not do)

I used their(W W I) Digi stamp--"Happy Day"
I also used digi stamp sentiment "Be Happy" from Digital doodling

Card is a pre made card from DCWV (very pale yellow)
Printed Paper by Stampin' Up
Twinkling H20s used: Lady bug & smile-Ginger Flower, Bkgd.-Tahitian Blue, Stem and leaves & eyelids(KL)-Mallard Green & Key Lime, Flower Center-Mandarin Citrine, Flower Petals-Yellow Rose & Celestial Sun, Sentiment-Celestial Sun
Black bling stones by Nicole
Swirly clip by Making Memories
Misc. ribbon

 This card is for No Time To Stamp's  stamp simply sketch challenge:

 Card Stock-Stampin' Up, pumpkin pie

Printed paper-Stampin' Up, patterns pack II

Fiber, Wright's Creation Station

Label punch- Stampin' Up

Sentiment (A Happy Hello)-Stampin' Up

Stained glass tulip, a digital stamp...(can not find artist's name if anyone knows please tell me)

Prisma color pencils, Prisma blending pencil

Flowers-Prima

Misc. Foam tape (under sentiment) Sakura Micron pen and mini brad

This one is Hubby's Dad's Day card from me, and it is also for MOJO Monday!!

It looks a bit better IRL, the green flower is a good match, but it doesn't look it in the pics, and I kept trying to fix it. Oh well  Because I put the scalloped circle behind the regular circle I didn't have room for 3 vertical strips, so I went with 2 strips and Fleur De Les Brad. this next pic is a little blurry but I think the colors look better.

One more view, so you can pick which one you like best.  Taking photos of my cards is fairly new to me, I've been a big scanner kinda gal. :)

Card Stock and bkgd. printed paper by Stampin' Up
other Printed paper rec'd as RAK
Flowers are Primas
2 3/4 inch circle punch by EK Success
3inch scalloped circle punch by Marvy-uchida
Digital stamp by TiffanyDoodles
brads misc.

V is for Vulnerable

After haVing a house fire on 6/6, we were without power until late afternoon yesterday. The VERY nutty bldg. Inspector had a different story eVery day, basically making hubby jump through hoops.   He lied to us, many times, contradicted himself, and stalled oVer and oVer again.

We liVe on 5 acres out in  woods 7 miles west of the nearest state road and town.  EVeryone has well water and septic systems out here. No power = no running water or flushing toilets.  It was like camping in our house. Our VERY nice neighbors to the right of us ran a power line into the house, allowed us to shower there, and get buckets of water to flush our toilets. They eVen took the majority of our frozen foods (meat etc) oVer to their freezer.

We were completely at the whim of this crazy inspector, there was no reasoning with him, I tried and eVeryone in the family tried to tell him, I'm an asthmatic and need the A/C. We reminded him oVer and oVer that no power meant no water etc. He said you should not eVen be liVing in the house since there is no power. I said we didn't turn the power off, he said neither did I. "No Moron, you are just keeping it from being turned back on!"

I do not think I haVe eVer felt this VULNERABLE in my life.  This made for a VERY emotional week for all of us, lots of bickering brought on by the VAST amount of frustration this "window licker" made us feel.

I have been camping, real camping...I haVe gone without flush toilets and running water, or at least Hot running water... but to do so in your own home makes you VALUE the wonder that is, a flush toilet and a water heater.  Ron and Tom were constantly fantasizing about this VILLAGE IDIOT'S demise. Tom had a couple of VERY bizarre dreams oVer this VERITABLE VICIOUS inspector that had to VALIDATE our VINDICATION. I would much rather find a way to make him VICARIOUSLY liVe the LiVes we just had to endure oVer the past 9 days. 

However, my 2 VALIANT men declared VICTORY this afternoon, saying "Let there be light!" and pushing up the kitchen light switch. As we were able to VANQUISH the darkness, I thought about the 3 sister witches on "Charmed" and just for a moment was enVious of their ability to VANQUISH the eVil and VILE demon of permits.

Today is brought to you by the letter  "V"  find more Alphabe-Thursadys and "V's"

HERE

Monday, muse upset, wants to clarify something

after receiving a kind of nasty comment about my fire pictures post.  I feel I need to say something AGAIN, so as NOT to be misconstrued.
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EDIT:  this same person who verbally attacked me for not being grateful that the firemen put out the fire, and that my daughter, son and I should re examine ourselves for being concerned over our losses. (oh anonymously of course...I do NOT publish anon comments)

went on to add this comment to this post: (I have to share it)...I just read more of your fire posts. Wow. You really are a piece of work. That's it. I'll darken your doorway no more.

to that I say: I'm a piece of work? 

You sit back passing judgment on people without the maturity to even give a name, you think that makes you any better?    I know what your name is....TROLL...and if I really wanted to know more about you, having friends(actually friends of my sons) that are good at computers and hacking...I could find you.

Luckily, you are not someone I choose to know better.  Keep your non-caring, judgmental comments to yourself...that is exactly why you are anonymous...cause you have nothing nice to say, and no truth to share.  I feel sorry for you.

Am I wrong about this person?  Is there something wrong in the way I am dealing with this stressful event in my life?  I have a lot of friends here, so please be honest.
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We KNOW that we are LUCKY that no one was hurt or worse. We KNOW we are very LUCKY that the fire stayed contained in one room.  We know we are LUCKY that the smoke and soot ONLY damaged the Hallway, the upstairs bath and the Master Bedroom. (my daughter had her door closed)  The open room, that the stairs come up into, had smoke damage, but it is an unfinished room, no sheet rock yet...the insurance co is going to replace the insulation.

We are grateful for the firemen and the police, just not the ones who were assholes. (there is one in every group, y'all know that)

Fire Pictures

My son took a small handful of pictures for me...I'd have taken more, especially of ALL the damage to the items in the room.  You will see that he zeroed in on some of his personal stuff, LOL.


First I would like to share a different picture with you.

This is Amanda's senior prom gown...she paid for it all by herself...$400.00  I bought the shoes and jewelry and paid for her hair,nails and makeup that day, but I digress.  She was holding onto this dress thinking  MAYBE, just maybe she would use it as her wedding gown (not that she is engaged or anything)  it is just because it is white, and unique.  The company only made 10 of these, and another 10 with navy blue vines and flowers.


This gown was in it's garment bag and laying on the top bunk of the bed in Tom's room. The garment bag melted and fused to the gown, and because of all the tulle, the entire thing melted and fused to the mattress. We were heartbroken...even her brother felt bad.

Ok onto the fire pictures(remember this room had basically just been finished):

entering the room from the hallway, the hallway is a very pale aqua, please note the color of our stained molding.  

   
 Looking straight up upon entering room  

Looking to your immediate right, like behind the door.  Brand new wall paper.

This is basically straight ahead of the door, but taken closer and at a slight angle, this the wall above the outlet that the fan was plugged into... this was BEAUTIFUL solid wood, bead board paneling, stained  "Early American" by Minwax and polyurethaned.

There is the outlet on the bottom left then you can see the upper part of the fan, and all the stuff from the closets, NOTE:  all the chopped holes in the walls that you have seen, and are seeing were made by the firemen.  That's Amanda's varsity jacket...the cuffs melted, and the leather got crispy,  we are going to cut off all the lettering and the embroidery and try to get it dry cleaned and then put it in a shadow box. there is the stand part of the fan also.  

The room was vacant as we had started renovating it(2 years ago), Tom moved out, so the closet was then used by Amanda and I for overflow etc. (My shower chair and commode from when I had my knee replaced were in there) I only had a few articles of clothing in their, my husband's suit was in there. The majority was Amanda's stuff.  Tom just moved back home about 1 month before the fire, his stuff is still in NC, otherwise there would have even been a greater loss.  He did not take a picture and I do not know why, of the TV  and  VCR that was in there or the computer, all melted...like you couldn't even imagine.  They were originally in Amanda's room. She recently acquired a huge HP laptop (maybe 17" or more).

This is the upper closet, the firemen knocked everything down and knocked holes in the wall, of course Amanda feels that if they didn't knock it all down, a lot of her articles of clothing would have been salvageable.  Maybe, ya never know, but I do know that firemen always cause more damage then the fire. (yes I have experience enough to be able to say this, sadly)

The ceiling in front of the closet and above the outlet

Same wall as the outlet, down the other corner and above window. you can clearly see it is bright daylight out, yet the wall and ceiling are black. The plastic lined runners and all the weatherstripping either is ripped or melted...the firemen broke out both panes of glass...they claimed the window was locked, it was NOT.  This is a huge window, and abnormal size, we were actually annoyed with the builder because we have to have custom blinds made for this (and our bedroom)  it is like 46 3/4" by 68"  something like that.

this is a picture my son took of 3 tee shirts and 2 BRAND NEW hats.  The gray tee shirt is just remnants there on the right. On the left is a "System of a Down" Tee (The band is no longer together, so it is kind of a collector item) and a green Mario brothers tee, both are semi burnt, and disinigrating when you touch them.  These hats melted, he just bought them at HOT TOPIC, he had a 3rd one, like a  cabbie hat  with "Jack Skelington" on it, but it was by the door, so salvageable.

View from the fire spot diagonally across the room, you can see where we needed to finish the border.  The bunk bed is solid wood, double bed on the bottom, twin on top, it was also brand new 1K.  we do not know if the wood can be saved, the insurance lady told us we can try, but she is claiming it anyway.  the mattresses are trashed.

The wall on the other side of the door backing up to the hallway, like I said brand new wall 
paper.

The view from the door towards the bed, they had already moved stuff around so you can not see the top of the top mattress or where the gown is melted to it.  Note the mural on the back wall, it did not peel or melt like the other wall paper (I guess the bed took the heat)  but it is very soot stained.

Do not get me wrong, I KNOW how lucky we are, but it is still heartbreaking, that if this had to happen, why did it have to be the room newly done???...murphy's law, I guess.

Yes, we are still without power, a lic. electrician was here on Friday, and spoke to the ____________ inspector guy, did everything he told him, and then the inspector guy said at 3pm (after he told my husband at 11am...there'd be someone available after lunch) there is no one available to come out there today, and I am not even sure about Monday...my husband and son keep fantasizing about this guy's demise!!!  We spoke to another electrician friend that promised us a phone number of the HEAD person OVER all the counties inspectors.  However, we are still waiting on that number.  :(

Friday (contin.) 5 Question Friday

1. What do you think makes a good friend, or friendship?

   someone you can trust, someone who will never betray you, someone that accepts you for you are--faults n all!

2. What is the last thing you bought & later regretted?

 at this VERY moment...our home, and there are many times I feel this way...we've been working on it, on and off for 24+ years...it is THE MONEY PIT...I will never buy a house again that needs more than new carpet or paint!!

3. Have you ever had a prank played on you?

  The kids have "gotten" me many times with little stories or whatever, the hubby also...I guess I  am a little gullible.

4. What is your favorite theme park?

  Disneyworld...in Orlando, FL (want to check out Epcot) 

  Busch Gardens...in Tampa, FL (want to take hubby there, he's never been)

5. Have you ever seen someone else give birth?

  I am not even sure I saw myself give birth, LOL  you are so busy doing the work, do you actually see?   not until they put the baby on you.

I have seen a film or 2.

 see other 5 questions here:  5 question friday