16 Things

Everybody is doing this thing called “16 Things” lately….isn’t if funny how these things catch on? Anyhow, here’s some more random things about me. (As if you needed to know how truly weird and random I can be!) You are supposed to tag 16 people at the end of your list, but I don’t have that many people to tag- hopefully someday I will!
1. I can be very outgoing, but I can also be really quiet. Sometimes people think I am stuck up.
2. I cannot stand the sound of people blowing their nose. I don’t know why, but it has always bothered me.
3. This past year, I have become addicted to Facebook, Twitter and blogging.
4. Anything peanut related can cause me to die. My allergy has gotten worse over the years.
5. I bite my nails. It is a horrible habit, and I wish I could stop.
6. Pedicures and massages are some of the best things on earth.
7. I loathe going to the doctor.
8. I can be really sarcastic at times.
9. I am not an animal person by any stretch of the imagination.
10. I wore braces but did not wear my retainer- one of the biggest things I regret.
11. Shopping and Paulina go together like salt and pepper. End of story
12. I have made many mistakes, but I have learned/ continue to learn from them.
13. I am a city girl.
14. I get motion sickness really easily. I absolutely hate it, but I haven’t found anything to help it. Long car rides, rollercoasters, even rafting is no good….LAME, I know! Any suggestions??
15. I love to give gifts. That may be why I don’t have much in my savings.

16. I could not live in the “olden times.” Internet, cell phones/ texting, cars are things I could not live without.

Feeling Broke

Let me start out by saying, that this is definitely a “RANT” post. I’m not my usual, cheery self today. It pretty much started at the beginning of the week…..

Nothing terrible happened really, but work felt like it was dragging along each day this week. I don’t know why, since I had plenty to do and was really busy. I just felt really down and stressed…I was kinda irritable too…not too pleasant to be around. (Sorry Mom!) Anyways, I was SO glad it was Thursday and I was finally completed with my week at work. I got off an hour early and was able to head off to the chiropractor for a much needed adjustment. Traffic wasn’t horrible, so it felt like my weekend was off to a good start. Unfortunately, this was not the case at all. I came home to see a letter on the counter for me. Not too strange, but it looked official and I didn’t recognize the return address. Well, turns out that it was a collections bill. Thing is, the bill was from 3 1/2 years ago! I had never received a bill, or at least it never got to me. In my mind, I had NO debt and I was finally on the road to a clean start. I thought all my accounts were taken care of, but apparently I was very wrong. Normally these things don’t bug me, but this amount was ridiculous. I called the collections agency and asked if we could settle on an amount, and they said yes. However, it was still way more than I had thought I would have to pay. After going back and forth with the guy, I just broke down and said to charge my card so I could be done with all this. I didn’t want it going on my credit record, even though it really shouldn’t. (It’s a long story, and I’m not going to go into it.) After cringing after seeing the amount get deducted out of my account, I have the lady at the car dealership (I was getting an oil change), tell me that my car fluids needed to be changed. I asked how much that would cost, and the total was $420 + tax. Honestly, I just wanted to cry. I just got charged a HUGE amount for a bill that I should not have to pay, and then hear that I have to fork out another $420+ for my car. I think what upset me the most was that I paid $1200+ and I really had nothing to show for it. No cute shows, clothes, purses, make-up, etc. I have to admit, I did cry on the way home from the car dealership. This was definitely not the way that I wanted my weekend to start. Hopefully it gets better…..

 

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Color Challenge #39

Woah…I did two different cards for Kristina’s color challenge this week! As you can see, I LOVE the new DeNami chickies– they can be found here. Also note, I have used more rhinestones. I’m telling ya, I just can’t get enough! I looked online, and saw all sorts of colors that I’m going to get….just can’t justify doing it right now…..I’ll write about why in another post.

Gift Card Holder

This is the gift card holder that I made for Ginny. She is a dear friend of mine, so I wanted to do something special. I had so much fun making this- I got to use my Cricut and lots of different papers. I LOVE how this turned out….I wouldn’t mind receiving a gift like this! ;-) I put a Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Cold Stone Cremery and Target gift card in the different slots- some of the best places on earth!

Here is another pic of the other side of the holder. I think I’m going to make another one of these soon- just can’t say who it’s for yet. (I have a lot of friends who read my blog!) I’ll try to post pictures once I get it made…might be a while. Lately, there have been a LOT of great sketches and color challenges out, I wish I had time to do them all!

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Color Challenge #39

I’m so glad that I had a chance to do Kristina’s challenge this week! I am constantly checking on her website to see if she has posted anything new and exciting. I just saw that she had opened an Etsy store- I was thinking of doing the same! I have to do a little more research, but I am seriously thinking of selling the cards that I post on my blog. I normally make my cards for sketches/ challenges, but I have way too many to use for my personal use! Do you sell your cards? If so, which website do you use?

Happy Monday

Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit…it wasn’t exactly a “happy monday“. I was so tired last night, I went up to bed at 8:30! Unfortunately, sleep didn’t come to me until 12:30. I was not too happy about this, and it showed this morning. I’m generally not a morning person, so being around me when I don’t sleep well/ don’t get enough sleep, is not so fun. It also didn’t help that I had a fabulous weekend and wasn’t ready to go back to work. Why do the weekends go by so quickly?! Anyways, I went into work and kept very, very busy. It’s always nice to have lots of things to do- makes the days go by so much faster.

Tonight I went to a movie and dinner with Ginny. Yes, I do spend a lot of time with her– if you really knew her, you would know why! Her personality is so fun, she can make me laugh even when I’m in my most grumpy mood. (Yes, I can be a moody person. I’m trying to work on that.) I’m hoping that having a “girls night” so early in the week will not affect me….it might be too late though, I’m already looking forward to the weekend! I’m planning on lots of cardmaking– I can’t wait!
Above is a card that I made this past weekend. Let me tell you, the picture really doesn’t do it justice. I think this is one of my most favorite cards. It is so simple, and yet it’s stunning. (Yes, I am tooting my own horn- it’s that good!) I am so in love with rhinestones right now, it’s dangerous. If I could get away with it, I would probably put them on every card I make! Speaking of rhinestones, does anyone know where I can get a ton for a good price? or even some nice ones?
One of the things I do first on Monday morning is print of the latest sketch @ 2S4Y. I’m still trying to figure out what I’m going to do this week. Hopefully I have time to do it!
I will post more soon! I still have a few more cards from this weekend that need posting. I also have this CUTE baby card that I made last night. I am SO excited to show you guys! I think it’s the nicest baby card I have ever made! I know, so much suspense…. ;-)

Day of Crafting

Yesterday, I had Ginny over for a fun day of stamping & cardmaking. Of course, there were lots of laughs, talking, snacks, music and movies too! She brought her suitcase of amazing crafting supplies, and we had a blast! Sadly, the first few hours I wasn’t very inspired, and didn’t get much accomplished. Towards the end of our 10 hrs. of cardmaking, I was on a roll and didn’t want to stop! (Sleepy eyes and knowing that you have to wake up early can really hinder things…) I made some fun Valentines cards using some of DeNami’s new chickie stamps. When I first saw their chickies, I wasn’t too excited, but those little guys can really grow on you! They have quite an assortment of them– Easter, birthday, Valentines, Christmas, etc…
I really love the way these cards turned out. The paisley papers are so fun! (These are also from DeNami Design) It’s hard to tell from the pictures, but I used some “fun fluff” on the chickies to make them fluffy. Too cute! The first card, I used my Cricut Expression to make the “L-O-V-E” letters. I cut them on dark paper, and used some brown glitter on top. I think you will be seeing more of this–I LOVE the effect! It definitely is time consuming, but the end result is so amazing. I won’t be spending money on those expensive glitter letter anymore!! Side note: I cannot get enough glitter!! Even though it’s a pain to get off when it’s on your face, hands, clothes and hairline, the way it takes a card to the next level is worth all the mess.
Have you started working on Valentine cards? I NEVER make any, but these stamps were just too cute to pass up, and I really wanted to express my love to those around me this year. I have some more cards to post, but I think I’ll do it a little at a time…..who knows when, but it WILL happen!

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Color Throwdown #25

I liked Laura’s sketch so much, I wanted to have another whirl at it! I made this card with a particular friend in mind. These are her colors, and I know she will really appreciate it. I can’t wait to give it to her! I had a hard time deciding which card to submit, but after I got the opinions of my family, I decided to submit the first card. Hopefully I made the right choice! I follow several different crafting blogs, and these colors are here. I have wanted to participate on this blog for a while, so I’m so glad that this card fits the colors! These colors are the same as Kristina’s color challenge last week…I knew I bought extra paper for a reason!

Gift Card Tin

I was browsing Dawn’s blog, and I saw her cute gift card tin. I still have a few more (Christmas!) gifts to give, and one of them was a gift card. I ♥ Dawn’s tin, but these are the colors that come to mind when I think of my friend. I think I’m going to have to make more of these- so easy, and yet you can personalize it and change it up. My sister said they would make good favors….I just might have to do that sometime! If you try this out, post the link so I can take a look!

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2 Sketches 4 You- Laura’s Sketch #17

Okay, I have a confession to make…..I’m addicted to 2 Sketches 4 You! I ♥ their sketches, love seeing all the different takes, and Laura and Kazan are absolutely amazing! As soon as I saw this weeks sketch, I got all these ideas in my head. I knew that I wanted to use my Cricut, and I had this great robins egg blue colored paper that was calling my name. I wasn’t completely thrilled with the card until I added the rhinestones. I really think it made the card “pop” to it’s fullest potential.