working the computer .....still!!!

No paper projects completed.... argh! I started working on my incredibly long list of TO DO's since Rich went hunting and then it just keeps growing. Lately, I have been working on the computer and playing with Adobe Photoshop Elements - that is one HUGE program! I had no idea what I had started when I purchased that program. Don't tell my husband, but this grand idea of digital camera, perfect printer and the ultimate photo editing program isn't the cheaper way to go! HA!! Now I realize the 8+ year old computer isn't nearly strong enough to hold all of these pictures and neither desktop or laptop burns DVD's. I swear I had chosen that option when I ordered this computer from Dell - but hey - life is just a blur these days.

In all - I absolutely love our Nikon D40X -sweet camera!! The HP printer I own now is awesome at printing pictures - even though the amount I have to catch up on now is way crazy..... and with the visual book from Amazon, I am learning Photoshop Elements - but won't set out to conquer it...lol

I better go - had way enough hours on a computer lately. Wish me luck on finishing this batch of to do's..... I REALLY need it too!!

TTFN

I bought a friend....

I have wanted this book for a REALLY long time - but mostly found it for a pretty penny or two - most expensive copy was around $200! I finally caught one on Amazon.com for around $22.
I remember as a young child, this was the book I would ALWAYS check out at the library. Even if I didn't read any of it during the time it was in my possession, it just gave me comfort to have it around.

Here are some of what is inside....
Fishy, fishy
Come bite my hook,
I'll go Captain,
And you'll go cook!

Spell 'mouse trap' in three letters....
C A T

I wonder, I wonder
Why lightning bugs don't thunder.

It will frost as many times in May as it thunders in February

Don't wait for your ship to come it. Row out and get it!

Anyway - this is what arrived in the mail today. Needless to say, it has been a very good day!!
Good Night,
michelle

update.....

Thanks to SophieLaFontaine over at SplitcoastStampers - Ritz Camera has a sister company called scrapbookingalley.com This is where to go - free shipping!! The Advantus Refill Pockets are just $ 2.25 each!!

My storage solutions - on a dime!

This is how I store my cuttlebug small dies and the small embossing folders - I have just a few of the Quickutz small dies and this works for them as well. It is hard to really see but the plastic cases are the cheap clear CD cases from Big Lots - I don't care for these ones - really cheap! (The piece for storing the CD has been taken out and just the basic case is used.) And using a bit of bubble wrap keeps the contents from moving around. Then I just store the cases in a CD holder - like the crates from Walmart

I still haven't gotten the hang of loading the pictures in the order I want..... but I think this order works ok. I tried to lay the subject on a the green paper hoping you could see the size of the envelope better. They are Tim Holtz Refill Pockets - come 5 in a package and are a bit frosted in color. If you want to try these - go to ritzcamera.com and search for 'Advantus' refill pockets. I believe this is how I find them because they aren't listed under Tim Holtz. I spent a bunch of time trying to find the best price and Ritz Camera was the cheapest - like around $2.95 or so... can't remember. Here I have a stamp set from Inkadinkado (hopefully that is spelled right!) I used a thin piece of foam (like how CTMH has their stamp sets) instead of the cheap thin plastic sheet that comes with clear stamps.

Cheap $1 crates from Walmart - these must be a hot item - never very many in stock and my store runs out quite often. These little buggers are just sooo versatile!

I took this pic to show how many sets fit in these crates - I have 27 sets here - each in their own envelope. This is perfect for me! I can search through each crate easily to find what I am looking for. Fairly compact storage - not too heavy either. I am lucky enough to have this office cabinet my hubby found at an auction - steel and lots of drawers and two large compartments on top which is where these are at - the door closes so my clear stamps are out of sunlight.

Just another picture

Hope this gives you an idea for your own system. I have to be thrifty on my storage ideas.... I want to spend money on more stamps and supplies!! Such a sick hobby this is ...LOL

Have a wonderful Monday!!

michelle

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday...

Here are the cards I made last week. This first one was for my nephew's wedding. I used CTMH stamp set Adorable, CTMH Just Blooms, CTMH adhesive pearl, CTMH cardstock and ink. This set will retire at the end of this year. It really is a cute set and I hope to get to play more with it soon. My favorite colors are these too - light pink and chocolate. Yummy...

This is a birthday card for our friend and neighbor - He LOVES golf and although CTMH has a great golf set, I found this Changito golfer on clearance at Michaels the other day.... LOVE CHANGITO!! The tree and clouds are hand cut and that inspiration came from Jen - mine don't compare but worked ok I think. I sponged the sky and grass... that is one of those practice make perfect things! It took me a while to get it where I wanted... lots of scratch paper!! The leaves are a punch from EK Success and the saying bubble is a cheap set I also found at Michaels. It was only $6 and you can really tell the difference. Cute set but very cheap in quality and I couldn't get a decent image to stamp....

Time to go - have lots to do today,

Have a blessed day!

me

This weekend went too fast!

Just a quick post tonight. Our nephew's wedding went awesome Saturday night - Welcome To The Family Crystal!! The wedding was beautiful and now we are waiting on a new baby with our other newphew.... Lately there have been so many events happening. Most are celebrations but a few are not. (I don't feel comfortable posting too much of my private life so we will just stop there. ) I tend to feel the rush of fall before winter sets in and time goes a bit slower..... you know, the forever it takes for the snow to melt in between storms! We noticed the mules have long, fuzzy winter hair coming in and I BELIEVE we are in for a cold and long winter up ahead. Time will tell..... remember I had a picture of the catapiller with really fuzzy hairs too....isn't that a wives tale??
I will post the pictures of the wedding card and birthday card I made for the weekend - just didn't download the camera today.... weather changed and I wanted to stay on the couch.... just had that tired and lazy feeling today.
I added the Close To My Heart information to my blog - hope it looks ok. I have decided to NOT do a MYCTMH website since this is mostly a hobby thing at the moment. I am taking the classes to earn my degree and thinking about what goals I want to set. It will all come together in time. I added my email to to my profile in case anyone wants to contact me.
Time to go - I am tired and it's time to go nighty night! I just remembered... Harvest Moon tonight! It's overcast too!! I love this moon but I feel November's Full Moon is truely the BEST!!
Nite....

Last post and a card!

Hello again - I know I could just post this all at once, but trying to upload the pictures in the order I want seems to be a struggle for me. Maybe I will start something new with Bulk Posting! Can't you just see it - the new rave that everyone will want to copy!! ......I know - come back to earth...
This is a card I made for a baby shower this weekend. I am still trying to stick with my goal for this year ... using my paper in stock. This isn't CTMH paper but the stamps and inks are. The paper is from the bulk package from My Minds Eye that I bought three times at Hobby Lobby. The stamp set is It'a a Zoo and retired set Random Thoughts from CTMH . Ink is Black and Juniper from CTMH. Ribbon and brads are what I have on hand.
This also is my first sewing job on a card!!! I have wanted to sew a card soooo many times but just didn't get to it. The book from CTMH called 'Wishes' really motivated me. The extra steps made on the cards in there gave me inspiration.
That is it for tonight... ok.... probably it for a while... until then, take care!!
Me