Here’s my interpretation for Challenge #2. You’re supposed to let the an embellishment (in this challenge, ribbon) dictate the design for your card. Well, I got some chipboard that I wanted to use, so I used it instead of ribbon. The sketch is GREAT!

I had a spa day today! I used my rad gift card from the in-laws…the head to toe package at Jackson Massage and Day Spa. Let me just give you the itinerary for the day:

• Relaxing 1 hour full body massage
• Rejuvenating facial
• Pretty pedicure and manicure
• Brow wax (not included in package)
• Wash, cut and style (not included in the package)

The workers at the spa were all: “Are you comfortable?” “Are you relaxed?” “Can I get you anything?” “It’s all about you today.” (how NICE!) Also, got to listen to beach noises and relaxing music all day long (gladly no new age mumbo jumbo though). They did the massage and facial first and I seriously though I wasn’t going to be able to finish out the rest of the day I was SO freekin’ relaxed (can you really be freekin’ relaxed??? ….anyway). Wanna see the toes?

Sorry if toes gross you out!

On to a card….I’ll post down a little so you can scroll past the toes, but still look at the card in case you’re squeamish (I know feet gross some people out)

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That Happy Birthday image is Stampin’ Up! Everything else is non-SU!. I think I’m enjoying stamping again even though I’m not a SU! demo anymore. I can use other products on my projects and not feel like I “need” to be selling only the stuff I’m using. So I’ll probably get lax about posting recipes for cards, but I think people mostly just look at the pics anywayz….Ok so maybe only I do that. Still reading??? Yes? In that case I’ll ramble on a little more.

Knitting: I’m knitting a Booga Bag. I’m a little late on the bandwagon with this project, but it’s so darn cute I don’t care.I’m about halfway completed. No pic…maybe tomorrow. It’s so bright and colorful and easy to knit! Can’t wait to finish.

Employment: Starting my new job at the hospital Monday…no longer a “lady of leisure” as my grandmother put it…yeah right…a nursing student isn’t “leisure” anything. Wish me luck.

Bye for now.

Check out Sarah’s challenge here. All my supplies and Images are Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted.

My first submission:

• It says: Sending you Birthday Wishes: Your Special Day
• Stamps: Circle of friends?, Hot Dot Wheel
• Ink: Basic Black, Encore Silver
• Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Shimmer White
• Accessories: Stampin’ Around Wheel, SU! ribbons, Circle punches, scalloped scissors (non-SU!), Xyron Sticker Maker, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Corner Rounder
• Technique: Dazzling Diamond Dust with Xyron (i will say skill level is intermediate because it’s kinda messy and might put a beginner off stamping…but it’s a totally easy technique)

So I finally got around to making some cards…now that things are settling down from having a new baby, school’s out, holidays are over…etc…. On to the cards already! All images &C Stampin’ Up!

• Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Linen BG
• Ink: Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Versamark
• Paper: Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
• Accessories: Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, Blue Gingham Ribbon, Iridescent Ice EP, Stampin’ Demensionals, tweezers (to pull that piece of gingham through the bow)
• Technique: Heat Embossing (Easy)

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• Stamps: Retired Flower and Hostess Sets, Linen BG
• Ink: Bashful Blue, Always Artichoke, Versamark, Cosmic Copper Dew Drop (non-SU!)
• Paper: Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Retired DSP
• Accessories: Brown & Blue Gingham Ribbon, Vanilla Grosgrain, Retired Stitched Thyme Ribbon, Iridescent Ice EP, Stampin’ Demensionals, Large Oval Punch, Embossing Stylus, Decorative Scissors (non-SU!)
• Technique: Dry Embossing (Intermediate)

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• Stamps: Retired Hostess Sets
• Ink: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Versamark
• Paper: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Retired DSP
• Accessories: A bunch of SU! ribbons, Iridescent Ice EP, Stampin’ Demensionals, Large Oval Punch, Embossing Stylus, Decorative Scissors (non-SU!)
• Technique: Dry Embossing (Intermediate)

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• Stamps: Birthday Best (i think?), Flower Jumbo Wheel
• Ink: Mellow Moss, Regal Rose
• Paper: Mellow Moss, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose
• Accessories: A bunch of SU! ribbons, Stampin’ Demensionals, Large Circle Punch, Decorative Scissors (non-SU!)
• Technique: Using a Stampin’ Around Wheel (Beginner)

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I love, love , love this card. I tried to get close so you can see the glitter!

• Stamps: All Hearts, retired hostess set
• Ink: Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue
• Paper: Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue
• Accessories: A bunch of SU! ribbons, Stampin’ Demensionals, Glue Pen (non-SU!), Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
• Technique: glue on GLITTER! (beginner…you probably did this technique in kindergarten)

The close up:

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ok so I was totally on a ribbon kick there. But when you find a good idea…might as well run with it. Stamping last night was FUN! I think I’ll do it again tonight. Check back tomorrow for some more cards!

Here’s the proof:

^Balancing a block on his head….BE AMAZED!!!

^Sweet Potatoes (yes he’s wearing 2 bibs people)

^Baby’s First Car aka the Tot Rod (Christmas present from Ma)

^The 2 littlest, cutest (sharpest) teeth evah!

and a slight mush-goatee…but gladly no mush-sideburns…this time at least

the mush is peas to be exact.

we’ve also tried and liked green beans, sweet potatoes and bananas.

next week: carrots or pears (we’ll play it by ear) .

Here’s out new afternoon to evening routine:

3-4 get home from daycare and eat a bottle…quick nap

play until 5:15

5:15 eat some baby food

play with toys in highchair or on the floor until bathtime around 6:30.

in bed by 7

Oh – and we have another tooth…which brings our total to 2!

Here’s how Halloween went down here:

Nathan went to Daycare dressed as an RN.

He’s wearing Thomas scrubs (made by me), a stethescope and a name badge (made in photoshop). Daddy says he’s the cutest male nurse ever!

Wanna Trick or Treat at our house?

A close up of the jack-o-lantern (I totally stole this idea from someone else):

We had several Trick or Treaters at our house. There was several princesses, two dinosaurs, at least two Spidermen (WAY down from last year), only a few “scary” costumes though. I gave out M&Ms, Snickers, Milky Ways and Twix. Some kiddos took more than one piece of candy! And their moms were standing right there….tsk tsk.

Here’s a scrapbook page dedicated to the awesome pic I posted last week:

He’s such a cutie!

I don’t!

We went for the 2 month checkup today. Nathan was in a good mood first off. Here’s why…he had a HUGE poop right before we went into to see the Dr. I just knew he’d save up a whopper for while we were out and about. I had him in a paper diaper so at least we didn’t have to tote around a poopy diaper. Dr. Payne (yes, that’s the ped’s real name haha), said it looks like Nathan is growing just fine and healthy. He didn’t get his shots today cuz we’re going to be participating in a clinical trial for a new vaccine. So, we’ll be going sometime around the end of the week. So of course when I got home Oprah was talking about autism being linked with vaccines. Grrr…I just can’t bring myself to not vaccinate though. Hey, I’ll do BFing, cloth diapers, and no circumcision, but I just can’t risk Nate getting a nasty childhood disease. Besides, even Oprah couldn’t show any scientific evidence to back up a link between autism and vaccines. So, anywho…

Here’s the stats from the appt:

• Weight: 14 lbs (90th percentile)
• Length: 25 in (95 percentile)
• Head: 17 inches?? I can’t remember what the actual # was, but I do remember it was in the 97th percentile.

So he’s still a big baby…good or bad??? Well since ALL those onesies I got at the baby shower are suddenly getting too small, I’ll say bad. On the other hand, he can fit into all his cute cloth diapers – GOOD!!! See:

Also, here’s the first baby smile we caught on camera:

Sorry it’s a little blurry.