Amber’s Cards

Here is 2009 and I have already acquired a tourbus and airplane!  In the world of Rock Band of course!  Adam and I received Rock Band 2 for Playstations 3 for Christmas this year from his parents.   We are enjoying playing in our band A^2.  A to the power of 2=  Adam and Amber.  Last night Andy came over as well to play so perhaps we should be ACubed!   Adam is usually the drummer and I am the lead singer most of the time.

Rock Bands has brought me back to junior high and the time I first realized I loved music.   I am enjoying listening to Smashing Pumpkins, which was the first CD I owned, especially Today.   I also am loving Buddy Holly and other favorites of the era.  I need to load up my ipod and enjoy going back in time.  Smashing Pumpkins came in handy one day when we were discussing the word Melancholy in my home room.  Who can forget <u> Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness </u>

Tonight Adam suprised me with the news that he had unlocked “Kids in America”, this is definently a song from my childhood.   It was on one of the first tapes I owned, “Kids Bops.”  I rememeber it being in the bargin bin at Odd Lots (the predecessor of Big lots).   I loved that tape and could sing the whole thing word for word.   I played it on my very own purple tape deck that I got for my birthday one year. “Kids in America” had to be my favorite song on the tape, even though it made little sense to me and I still have no idea what they were singing about.  Perhaps I should investigate that.  All I remember is lyrics about living underground and all the cars rushing by being sung all seriously, then followed up by a cheery, “We’re the kids in America, whoa, We’re the kids in America…”.  Perhaps this song was once sang on <u> Kids Incorporate </u>, which had to be be one my first favorite tv shows.  I would have loved to be on that show, even though I could and still can’t sing or dance.

Wow, I never knew this song was by Bloodhound Gang….I sure hope my Kids Bop tape didnt have all of these lyrics:

Kids In America By Bloodhound Gang
Looking Out A Dirty Old Window
Down Below The Cars In The City Go Rushing By
I Sit Here Alone And I Wonder Why
Friday Night And Everyone’s Moving
I Can Feel The Heat But It’s Seuthing Heading Down
I Search For The Meaning In This Dirty Town (Downtown)
The Young Ones Are Going (Downtown)
The Young Ones Are Growing
We’re The Kids In America (Whoa Oh)
We’re The Kids In America (Whoa Oh)
Everybody Live With The Music Go Round (Round Round Round
Round)
Bright Lights The Music Gets Faster
Look Girl Don’t Checkin’ Your Watch Not Another Glance
I’m Not Leaving Now Honey No Not A Chance
Hot Shots Give Me No Problems
Much Little Baby You’ll Be Saying Never Mind
You Know Life Is Creul Life Is Never Kind
We’ll Make A New Story
We’ll Wrap It In Glory
We’re The Kids In America (Whoa Oh)
We’re The Kids In America (Whoa Oh)
Everybody Live With The Music Go Round
La La La La La | La La La La La (Sing)
La La La La La | La La La La La La La La
Come Closerer Honey That’s Better
Got To Get A Brand New Expiriance Feeling Right
Oh Don’t Try To Stop Me Be Hold Me Tight
Outside The New Day Is Dawning
Outside Suburbia’s Sprawling Everywhere
I Don’t Want To Go Baby
New York To East Philidelphia
There’s A Newark Coming Up On Ya
We’re The Kids In America (Whoa Oh)
We’re The Kids In America (Whoa Oh)
Everybody Live With The Music Go Around
La La La La La | La La La La La (Sing)
La La La La La | La La La La La La La La La La La
We’re The Kids We’re The Kids We’re The Kids In America

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Went to St. Louis (and went up in the arch)
Went on a weekend scrap booking retreat where I knew one person sort of and came away with new great friends.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t think I kept 2008’s goals at all so hopefully I can do better in 2009.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Our Marching Band friends had their first kid, a cute as can be little girl that Adam and I enjoy visiting.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope, thankfully

5. What countries did you visit?
Perhaps I should take this as a hint I should get a passport.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Motivation,  I have all these ideas and plans but I need to put them into action!

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October when I went on my scrap book retreat
December 25th-  When for the first time in 16 years everyone in my family was at Christmas
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Starting a winter guard unit from scratch and managing to stay sane doing it.

9. What was your biggest failure?
exercising more or at all gah!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing to big this year, still trying to figure out these headaches

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I am loving my Cricut!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My Mom’s.  I am very proud of her

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Right now parents who cant parent the children they have brought into the world

14. Where did most of your money go?
Scrap booking supplies

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
scrapbooking , visiting family

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I really don’t have a song this year

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? about the same
b) thinner or fatter? The same.
c) richer or poorer? richer, car is paid off!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
exercising

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying.
Stressing.
Eating.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
For the first time in 16 years my entire family on my mom’s side was together for Christmas.  We had dinner at my grandparents house and exchanged gifts.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
over and over again

22. What was your favorite TV program?
I think new favorite new one would have to be Gossip Girl

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t hate people

24. What was the best book you read?
Any in the Twilight series
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
guitar hero

26. What did you want and get?
Cricut Expression!

27. What did you want and not get?
I think I pretty much have what I want currently, other then a new roof!

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
hmmm I didn’t watch many movies this year

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27 back in Dayton this year.  I spent the day shopping with my mom, aunt, and my brother’s girlfriend.  We had dinner at Marion’s with my family and Z.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I wish i had accomplished more personally.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Zip up, Button Up, Pull over Hoodies

32. What kept you sane?
my Friday nights at RSC

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I think I have moved past this phase of my life

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
the 2008 presidential election

35. Who did you miss?
Julia, Elizabeth, Kevin, My Mom, My grandparents, My Cousins, My Aunts and Uncles, My Ohio Peeps

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Amber and Jessi, these girls are awesome!  I am so blessed to have them in my life.  I can’t wait to get to know them more in 2009!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Things won’t get done if you don’t have a plan of action

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

“I’m gonna try, try
Gonna try
Try to be myself
Although myself I wonder why
I’m gonna try, try
Gonna try
Try to be myself
I wanna try to be myself this time”

Try-  John Mayer

Every year I make a different calendar for my family members.  This year I decieded I wanted to keep it simple so when I found an A2 sized calendar with only 4 frames to decorate, I knew this was the one!  I came across this calendar at : http://papersmiles.blogspot.com/2008/11/desk-calendar-tutorial.html

For my calendar I used the new October Afternoon (that I love!), Bazzill Cardstock, and my Cricut.

Here is January-March.  The coffee cup is off of the Graphically Speaking Cartridge:

April-June I used the Home Decor cartridge for the bird and used Kaisercraft Pearls for it’s eye.

.

For July-September I used the Graphically Speaking cartridge for the butterfly I added orange rhinestones for some bling.

This is October-December.  I used the Graphically Speaking Cartridge (or maybe Storybook) for the Tree.  I covered it with the Martha Stewart chunky snow glitter.  I love this glitter!

I have been busy, crafting a ton.   I need to take pictures and post things.   In the meantime…here is a Christmas survey for you.

A Christmas Survey, just for fun!!

1.) Wrapping paper or gift bags? decorated gift bags,  I am a horrible wrappper
2.) Real or artificial tree? Artificial, we travel to much at the Holidays
3.) When do you put up the tree? hopefully soon!
4.) When do you take the tree down?after the friend’s Christmas get together in January
5.) Do you like eggnog? Yum yum yum!
6.) Favorite gift received as a child? I always enjoyed my cabbage patch dolls
7.) Hardest person to buy for? My husband, the man who has everything he needs, that is under a million dollars

8.) Do you have a Nativity scene? somewhere I think
9.) Mail or email Christmas cards? mail, I send out between 30-50 cards
10.) Worst Christmas gift you have ever received? soap and a wash cloth it was interesting.  No it wasn’t  a hint, many people got them
11.) Favorite Christmas movie? I love them all!  Especially Love Actually
12.) When do you start shopping for Christmas? year round, then I get my butt in gear about a week before Christmas
13.) Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? nope
14.) Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? broccoli casserole!
15.) Lights on the tree? lots of colors
16.) Favorite Christmas Song?  All I Want for Christmas is You- Mariah Carey Style
17.) Travel at Christmas or stay home? travel
18.) Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.
19.) Angel on the tree stop or star? Star
20.) Open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?Christmas Day and Fake Christmas with the otherside
21.) Most annoying thing about this time of the year? having a deadline for crafting, I am more of a craft at my own pace kind of girl
22.) Favorite ornament theme or color? I love homemade ornaments
23.) Favorite thing for Christmas Dinner? roast beef, broccoli casserole, black olives
24.) What do you want for Christmas this year? scrap booking stuff, MAC make up
25.) Favorite Christmas gift as an adult?  I love everything, I love the thought people put into gifts

I love blog hop time and I had to make time for this month’s challenge.  Ever since I saw the Made of SnowSet I wanted to make my aunt who loves and collects snowmen a Christmas Gift.  I decieded that making some kitchen towels would be perfect.  I love gifts that are useful yet personal.  I wanted to use nice and thick flour sacks, but I could only find these ones are Target.  I am ordering for my Christmas ones.  To make these I stamped the towels with Palette Inks.  I wanted to try a couple of different styles so I made the snowflake and flower one.  These should last forever heatset with the dryer or iron.  It has been a busy week so while I had time to stamp I ran out of time to heat set.   One hint: make sure that you only one layer of the towel when stamping, if the surface is so plush that edges of the stamp or anyplace with stray ink will mar your creation.  I managed to only do this once

Supplies Used:

White Flour Towels from Target

Ribbon:  PTI Poppy Red

Ink:  Various Palette Colors (please ask if you want a specific)

Stamps: Made of Snow, Rustic Snowflake, Beautiful Blooms

I also made a gift bag to put the towels in.  The memory mist looks beautiful on kraft paper bags. I love the shimmer and shine it gives.  I bought a pack of bags and the tag on clearance at target.  I am a horrible wrapper, so I love gift bags!

Supplies:

Paper bag and Tag from Target Wrapping Section

Stamps:  Rustic Snowflake PTI

Ink: Black Palette

Accessories:  Gold Memory Mist

It has been hard to get back into card making, but I have being trying to get some quality crafting time in before school starts once again.  It is hard to believe that I soon will be starting my 6th year of teaching!  Where has time gone.  I am excited this school year though because I am going to try my hand at teaching community ed courses once again, hopefully I get some takers this time.  I feel my classes are a great deal, because I love doing this and I want people to realize this is fun and that I have some cool ideas for classes.   I will try to post samples here as I make them.

This is my take on Beate’s Weekend Sketch from Friday.  I worked on this as I made cards at the local scrapbook store.  I love this paper from DCWV and I was able to use my Nestabilities for the first time.  I was semi successful, there is a learning curve to using them with the cuttlebug.

Stamps:  Pencil Bowl from Lockhart Stamps

Paper: DCWV Grade School Stack, Cardstock from American Crafts, White paper from Papertrey Ink

Coloring Technique:  Sharpies, Prismacolor Markers, Bic Mark It Marker

This picture shows a close up of the half pearls I added to the cherries.  These pearls are from Kaiser Kraft.

Here is my take on Jen’s sketch.  This is a new sketch site for me, even though I have read Jen’s blog for awhile.  I am not liking the red oval I did on this, but I am limited with ovals.  They are next on my list for my nestabilities.

Stamps:  Aviator Penguin from Memory Box Co

Paper:   My Mind’s Eye Dreamer, American Crafts Cardstock

Coloring Technique:  Bic Mark-it markers

Accessories: pop dot, my out of place handwriting

Here is my card for Lauren’s sketch.  I love this paper!  I went to hobby Lobby today and they had TONS of new paper.  This came from a stack from My Mind’s Eye called dreamy.  The whole stack is glittery.   Paper is on sale at Hobby Lobby this week, I wish I could go first thing Monday, but I will have to settle for what is left on Tuesday.

Stamps:   My Favorite Things from WISHRAK

Paper:  My Mind’s Eye Dreamy, American Crafts Cardstock

Coloring Technique:   Prismacolor Markers

Accessories:  Popdots

After 3 weeks of guard/band camp, family visiting, and pre-school workshops I had time to stamp this weekend .  I even went to a crop a the local scrapbook store last night and brought some sketches with me to complete there.  I love having the chance to craft with other people.  It was a fun night.  I think they even talked me into going on a retreat with their store in October.  Sounds like the perfect time to work on Christmas crafts and cards.

Taylor’s Cupcake Challenge #30

Stamps:  Image from WISHRAK, it is a current Stampin Up Set
Paper:  WeRMemory Keepers Whiteout DP, American Crafts Cardstock
Coloring Technique:   Bic Mark-its and Sharpies
Accessories:   Eyelets from Making Memories

It is time again for Papertrey’s Monthly blog hop.  I really wanted to participate in this month’s hop so I made sure to put this card together before my week of 14 hour work days with summer school and color guard camp.  I am even setting this to auto post since I will be at guard camp when the hop starts.   I am going to post to the forum via my iphone.  I love my new phone!  I am hoping to get back to creating soon,  we have 2 weeks of band camp that will cut into my creative time and energy.

Stamps: Beautiful Blooms, Garden of Life

Ink:  Dark Chocolate, Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Spring Moss

Paper: Dark Chocolate, Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Linen Vellum Cardstock

Accessories: Cuttlebug Flower Die, Brads from Target Dollar Section, Spellbinders Tag Dies

I love the vellum for PTI it is so beautiful and luxurious.