Never a dull moment...

It appears that we're not allowed any dull moments in the Mutch household! We were at our friends place on Saturday night who happens to live just a cross the street from us. She started up a portrait studio business in her home and does off-site portraits, as well. Since the girls school pics weren't very good this year, I decided to take them over there to get more shots done and get a family one done of us all while we were at it.

Well, the portrait session went well, but then as we were leaving, Jim slipped on the way out the door on the wet concrete step with his dress shoes on with no treads on them. Down he went...rolling his ankle. By the time he got to our house across the street, the side of his ankle had swelled up the size of a large orange!

He was too stubborn to go to the civilian hospital, not wanting to have to wait 6-8 hours or more, so he decided to wait until this morning to go to the Base hospital. Yup, you guessed it, he's got a broken ankle, or broken Tibia actually. So, he's in a cast until next Monday when they'll reassess it to see if the bones have shifted at all, then they'll put on another cast for another 6-8 weeks. Guess that puts the kibosh on sailing for a while! Poor Jim! I'll have to make him a funny Get Well Soon card...

Well, I'm still trying to get over this darn cold and need to go get some rest. It's nice not to have to working 16 hour days now like the lead up to Gala, but now it's time to rest up a bit. I'll kick back into crafty mode in a couple of days. :)

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Climber Kitten

I caught my kitten, Misha, today in a place I never would have ever expected her to be and I had to share with you! She's quite a little climber and obviously still in kitten mode!

Here she is on top of my range hood! Funny, eh? :)
OK, I just had to share this funny pic with you all. I'll be back soon!

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Elegant Tri-Shutter Card

Sorry, I've been MIA lately. I've been crazy busy with getting ready for our Gala Reception & Auction at work. It was held on Wed. night and was a very successful evening. Including all corporate donations, as well as the proceeds from the auction itself, we raised about $40,000! We all had a great time and we'll be able to help so many children with these funds raised. A great job by all! All those extra hours were well worth it! :)

I was asked at work to make a card for the Executive Director for the Pictou agency for Big Brothers Big Sisters. She was just awarded the "2009 Women of Excellence" award from the Canadian Progress Club, Halifax-Cornwallis. So, I thought I'd make a special Tri-Shutter card for her with a beautiful image of a woman. Who isn't more beautiful than Audrey Hepburn? These photostamps are made by The Stampsmith and are simply gorgeous! I need to get some of them...I think I'll add them to my Santa wish list... :) Thanks to my friend, Kim for loaning me these two stamps.

Introducing the beautiful, Audrey...Hey, I need a hat like that! lol :)


Here's a close up of one of Suzanne's gorgeous calligraphy sentiments from QuietFire Designs.
This is a note from the Canadian Progress Club's website about the award:

Women of Excellence

The signature fundraising event of the Canadian Progress Club, Halifax-Cornwallis, this elegant awards dinner is the only one of its kind in our region. Money raised by the event supports Phoenix Youth Programs, a long-term shelter for homeless and at-risk youth. We are now celebrating our 20th Year!!!—and more than $500,000.00 we’re continuing to expand our program. On November 19, 2009 we’re hosting another dynamic Progress Women of Excellence Awards. Again this year we will celebrate all our finalists as extraordinary women, whose impressive achievements spanning six business sectors make a powerful impact on our community. Our venue this year is the Halifax World Trade and Convention Center . A special guest speaker from Phoenix Youth Programs will underscore the accomplishments we all can make with a bit of inspiration and support.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Audrey Hepburn Photostamp (The Stampsmith), Sentiment (QuietFire Designs)
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip and Sage Green (Bazzill), Ivory (Staples)
Patterned Paper: Once Upon a Time Print - Enchanted Paisley (DCWV), Classic K McKenna - Green Swirls (K&Company)
Ink: Cranberry Crisp (SU), Coal Black (Ancient Page), Antique Sepia (VersaFine)
Tools: Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Scalloped Diamond Punch (EK Success), Corner Rounder (SU), Oval Custom Cutting System (Creative Memories), Sponge (SU), Chancery Cursive font at 14 pt and 22 pt for sentiment, printer
Embellishments: Dark Olive Green Grosgrain Ribbon (Michaels), Prima Flowers, Antique Brass Jumbo Brad (Dollarama)

Card Portfolios Completed

I got my two card portfolios decorated tonight. This is the final product and ready to take to work tomorrow. These little portfolio templates made things very easy, only having to fold the score lines and use double-sided adhesive the make the pockets. Hopefully they'll bring in a few bucks at the auction for a great cause. :)

Here are a couple of different views to show the dimension of the portfolio. It's an inch thick when closed.

Straight on showing the bottom.

These are the inside pockets that hold all five cards and the envelopes.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Holiday Filigree (Inkadinkado), Snowflake (StampCraft)
Cardstock: Flat White & Ivory (Staples), Navy Blue (Bazzill)
Patterned Paper: Snowflakes, and two tones of blue textured cs- Jacqueline Addison (Imagine That)
Ink: Blue Bayou (SU)
Tools: Portfolio Die Cut (CRS)
Embellishments: Clear Bling (Dollarama), 3/8" Blue Grosgrain Ribbon (Michaels), 5/8" Blue with White Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (Michaels)

Misha (Siamese) Pics

I just took a couple of pictures of our kitty, Misha and I thought I'd share them with all the cat lovers out there! :) Misha is settling in very well and is a very social kitty. She's almost 5 months old, so she's still very kitten-like in her behavior and is such a joy to have around the house. When I'm at my crafty desk, she lays down right next to where I'm working. She follows me around the house almost like a dog and at night she sleeps right beside me in bed.

Her fur is really starting to darken a lot more. This pic is a little blurry, but I thought it was really cute of her looking right at the camera.

OK, that's all the kitty cuteness for now. lol :)

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Filigree Christmas Tree

This is the final set of 2 cards that I've made for the two portfolio card sets for work. I realy like this patterned paper by Basic Grey...I'm gonna have to track down some more of it. I thought it paired well with the Christmas tree and I love all the bling...I just wish I could find these smaller gems as self-adhesive with individual adhesive dots on the backs instead of that strip of adhesive - which is useless in my opinion!

Well, we had a huge cleaning day today in the house and I'm beat. Then, tomorrow is "Turkey Day" so it'll be busy, too. So, I think I'll call it a day. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Holiday Filigree (Inkadinkado)
Cardstock: Teal Weave (Bazzill), Lime Green (Bazzill), Speckle Cream Text (CRS)
Patterned Paper: Fruitcake - Vintage Ornaments/Pine (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Tools: 3/16" Mini Glue Dots, Corner Rounder (EK Success), Metallic Gold Gel Pen

Happy 14th Anniversay!

It's hard to believe, but Jim and I celebrated our 14th Wedding Anniversary today! Seriously, where does the time go? Seems like just the other day we were young and dating. I got married at 21, so I was pretty young, but I knew I had met someone who made me happy and who treated me well. After dating for a year and a half we got married.


We had several years of just the two of us to grow as a couple and then the day before our 6 anniversary, our first daughter was born. Two years later our 2nd daughter was born. We are so blessed to have two beautiful, healthy daughters and I wouldn't change a thing in our life.

So, here's to at least another 14 years or more! Hey, we could end up like both our parents who have just celebrated their 49th and 56th anniversaries! In this day and age, that's pretty phenomenal! I'd like to think that Jim and I will still be together then and that I'll still be driving him crazy! lol :)

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Peace Dove

I got two more cards done tonight...that's 8 down, 2 more to go. Then, I just need to decorate the portfolios and I'll be all done. Hopefully I can get them tomorrow night, seeing as how I'm quickly running out of time! I treated myself to this new snowflake punch the other day and I quite like it. Isn't retail therapy wonderful! :)

This is the Mojo Monday sketch from a weeks ago that I followed for my card.
Well it's 12:30 am...time to call it a day! I'm really not gonna like the sound of that alarm clock in the morning!

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Holiday Filigree (Inkadinkado)
Cardstock: Flat White (Staples)
Patterned Paper: Snowflakes, and two tones of blue textured cs- Jacqueline Addison (Imagine That)
Ink: Blue Bayou (SU)
Tools: Arctic Snowflake Punch (EK Success), 3/16" Mini Glue Dots (SU)
Embellishments: Clear Bling (Dollarama)

Mermaid Dollies

I wanted to share a couple of very sweet mermaid dollies that my dear friend, Diana made for my girls for their birthdays this past weekend. They absolutely adore them. Aren't the dollies sweet? :) Diana really is a talented crafter, you can see more of her work on her blog. Please check it out and leave her a little love!

This is my oldest daugher, Alexandria. She turns 8 years old tomorrow. Where does the time go? ZI still can't believe she's 8. Seems like just the other day I holding her as a newborn. Although I enjoy seeing her get older, it kinda makes me sad to be growing up so fast! I had a hard time getting a decent pic of her, she was carrying on so crazy! Her sister was dancing around foolishly at the side of the frame making her laugh, too. They really are the best of friends.

See the smile on Natalia's face, she's my soon to be 6 year old who got an early birthday present...another reason to smile!
Thanks so much, Diana for making these for the girls! They really love them and are sleeping with them as I type! :)

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Mojo107 Sketch Challenge

I combined the current Mojo Monday Challenge with my 3rd set of two cards for the portfolio card sets that I'm making for work. 6 down...4 more to go. I really like this sketch and know I'll be using it again in the future.

This is the current Mojo Monday Sketch that I followed.I'll have another card to show you tomorrow night.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Holiday Filigree (Inkadinkado)
Cardstock: Flat White (Staples)
Patterned Paper: Snowflakes, and two tones of blue textured cs- Jacqueline Addison (Imagine That)
Ink: Blue Bayou (SU)
Tools: Cuttlebug, Snowflakes Embossing Folder, Classic Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Custom Circle Cutting System (Creative Memories)
Embellishments: Blue Bling (Colorbok)

Happy Hollydays

This is the 2nd card that I've made two of to go in each of my card portfolio sets to be auctioned off at our Gala for work. I actually used the wrong stamp for the sentiment and used the happy 'holly' days one instead of the normal holidays one. This kind of put the kibosh to my card a bit as I hadn't planned on putting the berries on it but it didn't really make sense unless I did...Oh, such card dilemmas! lol :)

Well, we had a busy weekend with my daughter's both celebrating their birthdays this weekend. Our oldest daughter turns 8 years old on Tuesday and our youngest daughter turns
6 next month, but Jim will be away so we opted to have a joint birthday so he could be here to celebrate with them both.

Time to call it a day...I'll be back tomorrow with more to show you.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Wild Vines (Technique Tuesday), Amy Butler Lotus Floral Stamps (K&Company), Holiday Filigree (Inkadinkado)
Cardstock: Forest Green Linen, China Red Linen (CRS), Ivory (Staples)
Ink: Old Olive (SU), Ruby Red (SU), Grey Shadow Ink (Hero Arts)
Tools: 1 1/4" Circle Punch (Creative Memories), Black Gel Pen (Signo)