Squigglefly Challenge #64

This week's challenge over at Squigglefly is to create a manly/masculine birthday card.  Here is mine:

Well it may not be masculine enough for a man, but any young boy would love it!  LOL!

Supplies:
Stamps: Squigglefly - Shy Bear: Birthday Bear, Papertrey Ink - Masculine Motifs (Sentiment)
Paper: PTI Rustic Cream, GP White, Tempting Turquoise, SU Rainbow Sherbert DP
Ink: Archival Jet Black
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Blending Stumps, Baby Oil

Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games) - Suzanne Collins

Summary from Good Reads: In Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins continues the amazing story of Katniss Everdeen in the phenomenal Hunger Games trilogy.  Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

I really enjoyed this book!  Thankfully, I finished reading The Hunger Games right before this so everything was still fresh in my mind.  The book begins by explaining the duties and formalities of the Victory Tour.  Katniss and Peeta have to adjust to life in Victory Village until the Quarter Quell is introduced.  They both go back to participate in the 75th Hunger Games all over again.  This time the games are different and the alliances that are created don't quite make sense until the end.

I just finished this book today and I already started Mockingjay, the final book of the Hunger Games!  It was delivered automatically to my Amazon kindle on Tuesday morning.  I am hoping to have this book done in about a week.  Please stop back for my review!!

Introducing Net Galley

Okay, this posting is not craft related but I think that it is worth sharing especially if you love to read.

On Monday, I discovered a great website called Net Galley.  This site is a place to get free ebooks in exchange for a written review.  Most of the books have not even been released yet.  These books are received directly to your kindle or you can download them to your e-reader.  If you do not have an e-reader, then they have the Adobe Digital Editions for free so you can read it from your computer.

When you sign up, set up your profile and public bio that will be visible to publishers.  Then take some time and browse the catalog for books that appeal to you.  If you like it, you may request a copy of it from the publisher.  Then you have to wait for the publisher to approve your requests and your books are available to download.

Lately, I have really been reading Amish fiction and I found several of them here.  Here are all the books that I have downloaded for review:

1) Betsy's Return (Brides of Lehigh Canal, #2) by Wanda E. Brunstetter

2) Kelly's Chance by Wanda E. Brunstetter

3) Lydia's Charm by Wanda E. Brunstetter

4) Nipped in the Bud (Hometown Mysteries) by Susan Sleeman

5) Simple Secrets by Nancy Mehl

6) Tyger Tyger (Goblin Wars, #1) by Kersten Hamilton

7) Fear No Evil by Robin Caroll

8) The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan

9) A Simple Amish Christmas by Vannetta Chapman

10) Goodness Gracious Green by Judy Pace Christie

11) When the Devil Whistles by Rick Acker

12) A Time to Love by Barbara Cameron

I have to finish reading Catching Fire (Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins and then finish the series with MockingJay (The Final Book of the Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins before I can start any of the new ones.

Happy reading!

Get Well Soon

I decided to play around some more of my new dies from Papertrey Ink to make this get well card for a co-worker.  These dies make cutting out so much easier!  I just love PTI!

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Tea for Two, Papertrey Ink - Tea for Two Additions
Paper: PTI White, GP White, PTI Kraft, PTI Raspberry Fizz
Ink: PTI Raspberry Fizz, Archival Jet Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug, PTI Die - Tea for Two, PTI Border Die - Eyelets, Adhesive Rhinestones, Scor-Pal

Hooray ...

... School's starting soon!  Well at least all the stay at home moms they are saying this!  LOL!

I am sending this to my friend Heather.  I know that she is totally feeling this card!

Supplies:
Stamps: Squigglefly - Ready to Catch the Bus, Papertrey Ink - Fillable Frames #3 (Sentiment)
Paper: PTI White, GP White, YoYo Yellow, Basic Black
Ink: Archival Jet Black, Cat's Eye Chalk - Sunflower
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Blending Stumps, Baby Oil, Cuttlebug, Label Four Nestabilities, Brads, PTI Impression Plate - Sunshine

Happy Birthday Jay!

Today is my hubby's 37th birthday!  We are on vacation in Pennsylvania for the week.  He always takes vacation for his birthday.  I usually don't get him anything since he ALWAYS buys himself something big right around this time of year.  He did it again this year, he bought a 2009 Arctic Cat Yaa Daa Yaa Daa (can you tell that I don't listen about all the details)!  LOL!  But this year I did get him something.  Here it is:

We were out to dinner with some friends last week and we got on the topic of candy.  So I brought this item up so I had to get it from Jay for his birthday.  It is called 80's Retro Candy.  He will have to share though! LOL!

I ordered it on August 9th from Amazon and I am praying that I get it before August 13th before we leave.  It was being delivered from a private vendor out of Woodstock, New York so I may have it in time.  If not, then it will be waiting for him when we get home.

And no, I did not make him a card.  I did that the first year I started stamping.  He opened it, read it and threw it away.  So I refuse to make him a card ever again.  Do you believe that????

Have a great day everyone!

Squigglefly Challenge #62

Happy Monday!  It is time for Squigglefly's challenge #62.  It is to use "hot colors" such as red, yellow and orange.  Here is what I created:

I just love this fat cat, he reminds me of Garfield!

Supplies:
Stamps: Squigglefly - Kuruku Loo, Papertrey Ink - Flutterby Friend (Sentiment)
Paper: PTI White, GP White, Real Red, YoYo Yellow
Ink: Archival Jet Black, Cat's Eye Chalk - Sunflower
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Blending Stumps, Baby Oil, Cuttlebug, PTI Impression Plate - Sunshine, SU 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon - Tangerine Tango

Herb Square

When I was searching through my stamps to find the sun that I used on Sunday's card, this one was calling my name.  I think it is great for making blank, non-sentiment cards.

Supplies:
Stamps: Unity - A Pocket Full Of (July 09 KOM), SU - Weathered
Paper: PTI Kraft, GP White, Always Artichoke, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Unknown DP
Ink: Always Artichoke, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Cuttlebug, PTI Rick Rack Border Die

Welcome Little One

My cousin from Maine just had a baby boy.  They mailed us a picture as the birth announcement.  He is living with his girlfriend in Virginia since he is stationed down there with the Navy.  I have not seen him since we went up to visit him one time at the University of Maine in Orno.  Dang, I am getting old!  LOL!

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Enjoy the Ride, Papertrey Ink - Fillable Frames #1, Papertrey Ink - Everyday Classics (2009 Anniversay Set)
Paper: PTI White, GP White, Brilliant Blue, SU SAB DP
Ink: Brilliant Ble, Bashful Blue, Archival Jet Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug, PTI - Fillable Frames #1 Die, SU 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon - Whisper White

Book Club Bookmark

We just started a neighborhood book club last month.  At our first meeting, Rachel asked me where our bookmarks are.  She figured that I would have made them for everyone.  Well now that I know they want them, I made some for our next meeting.

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink - All Booked Up, Papertrey Ink - Bacground Basics: Retro
Paper: GP White, Real Red, Basic Black
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Real Red, Archival Jet Black, PTI - Tea Dyeing Duo
Accessories: Cuttlebug, PTI - Bookmark Die, Large Eyelet, Tassel

You Are My Sunshine

Yeah, I finally got some time in my craft room.  I made 5 cards and 4 bookmarks in about 3 hours!  Woohoo!  Here is one of the cards:

Supplies:
Stamps: Unity - A Pocket Full of - KOM July 09, Papertrey Ink - Fillable Frames #3
Paper: PTI Kraft, GP White, Only Orange
Ink: Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange, Archival Jet Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Fillable Frame #3 Die

Amazing Blog Candy!

OMG, I just came across the mother load of all blog candy!  She is giving away 1,000 sheets of 6x6 designer paper and tons of individual stamps.

Here is all the paper:

And here are all the stamps:

Be sure to check out Amy's blog for your chance to win some of this HERE!

Squigglefly Challenge #60

Happy Monday to everyone!  It is time for Squigglefly Challenge #60.  It is to use ribbon!  This is one super easy challenge for me!  Here's my creation:

I decided to pierce holes outlining the nestability cut image instead of matting it for a change.  I like how it looks!  Inside it reads: "Women are like teabags, you don't know how strong they are until they get into hot water!"  I think this card deserves a trip to Alabama to live with my friend Mary!

Supplies:
Stamps: Squigglefly - Women Are Like Teabags
Paper: PTI White, GP White, Elegant Eggplant, Unknown DP
Ink: Cat's Eye Chalk - Pink Pastel
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Blending Stumps, Baby Oil, Cuttlebug, Label Eight Nestabilities, Piercer, SU 1/2" Grosgrain Ribbon - Regal Rose

Filekutz Newsletter

Happy August everyone!  Boy, is this summer flying by or what?

I wanted to take a moment to tell you about a great digital cutting newsletter.  It is for Filekutz by LisaJane and I am on her creative team!  She emails out a newsletter on the 10th of each month with a FREE digital cutting file.  Do you want to see a sneak peak of this month's freebie?  Here it is:

This is such a versatile cutting file!  You could use just the mats, borders, flourishes, letters or titles separately or all together.  I will have a project to share with you using this file after the 15th.

All you have to do is sign up for it HERE before the 10th to get the newsletter and the free file.  ENJOY!! :)

Birthday Wishes

Here is another super cute freebie from Pollycraft Designs.

This cute bear, Cuthbert, will happily help celebrate any child's birthday.

Supplies:
Stamps: Pollycraft Desigsn - Cuthbert Bear - Freebie, Papertrey Ink - Daily Designs Sentiments
Paper: PTI White, GP White, Real Red, Basic Black, SU DP
Ink: Archival Jet Black, Cat's Eye Chalk - Lipstick Red, White Gel Pen
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Blending Stumps, Baby Oil, Cuttlebug, Square Nestabilities (Classic & Scallop), SU 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon - Real Red