Take Me Out to the Ballgame . . .

(Mic and the cute baby keeping shaded from the sun)


(Mmmmmm - E eating some cotton candy)


(Finger lickin' good -- J loves cotton candy)


(Sleepy baby E and me)


(The Fab 5 at the game - ignore my silly face I am making)

So the spring training season is almost done and I really had wanted to go to a game this year and yet other stuff had been taking up our time, (like finishing the backyard and trying to keep up with the messes that three kids make) so yesterday, we managed to get to a game. We bought tickets from scalpers and WAY overpaid for them, but the game was sold out and we really wanted to go, so whatever. It was fun! The kids had never been to a game before. We saw the Anaheim Angels massacre the Seattle Mariners at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

The kids made friends with some people who were sitting near us and they shared some peanuts with them. It was really funny watching the kids learn to take them out of the shell. Then their new friends taught them to pitch the shells at people, which was a bad thing because then they were doing it to people we had not even met.

J decided he wanted to roll down the hill once some people had left so we had to keep him from doing that -- he did manage to get a couple of fun rolls in. It was hilarious!!!

When I was younger I used to play slow pitch for many years so it was a lot of fun to go to a spring training game. In my youth I went to lots of Toronto Blue Jays games, but I had never been to spring training and definitely consider that to be a perk of living here in Arizona. It was a blast!!!

(Just in case you thought we didn't actually watch the game, just took pictures)

Who's Afraid of the Big Bold Brights . . .

Not me!!! I made this card for Sketch Challenge 220. I used Beate's tutorial on making texture with alcohol markers which is now available on SCS to create the dotted texture on the umbrella. I loved this set the moment I saw it. It was one of the sets that made me want to be on the design team for Hanna Stamps . . . and about a month ago I discovered that I did not own it yet. EEK! So I decided I needed to have it and promptly ordered it. Then I got busy doing other stuff and had yet to pull it out . . . well, today I managed to play with it finally. Hope you like what I came up with for this sketch!

Stamps: Rainy Day (Hanna Stamps), Miss You (Amuse Artstamps) Paper: Yo Yo Yellow (SU), Baby Blue Dark (Prism Papers), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Flowers - PL-172 (Me & My Big Ideas) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Clear embossing powder (SU!), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), blue grosgrain with white dots (Dots Dashes & Checks - Michaels Stores Inc.), Sewing machine, white thread, silver prismacolor pencil, Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Early Fathers Day Card

I had one last card to show you from the Hanna Stamps bowling set . . . this one features a trophy for the world's best dad. When I saw this trophy, I immediately thought of this idea, but it seemed the least exciting to make, hence it is the last complete. Anyway, I used the sketch from the CCEE Stampers blog, which I just discovered this week.

Stamps: Bowling Hanna (Hanna Stamps), Everyday Sentiments (Hanna Stamps) Paper: Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Not Quite Navy (SU!), Handsome Hunter (SU!), Night of Navy (SU), Blue Plaid (Keepsakes Designs) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: 1 3/8 and 1 1/4 inch circle punches (SU!), sewing machine, white thread, clear embossing powder (SU!), diamond stickles (Ranger), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), Blue Sheer dots organdy - Dots, Dashes & Checks (Michaels Stores, Inc.), gold prismacolor pencil.

Happy St. Patricks Day

I created this little good luck Riley card with intentions to make it less traditional St. Paddy's day looking. I think I succeeded. I just love coloring this guy and I love the way the diamond stickles look when I put them over top of my copic colored/prismacolor gold pencil colored horse shoe. I figure this card could be sent on St. Patricks Day, or even for another occasion where good luck wishes are in order. I recently discovered the Card Patterns - Weekly Blog Sketch blog here on blogspot, and I am such a sucker for sketches, I used their sketch this week for the layout.

Stamps: Goodluck Riley (Hanna Stamps), St. Patty's sentiment - Studio G Clear Stamps - Series 26 (Hampton Arts) Paper: Waild Wasabi (SU!), Sultry Paper Pad (Basic Grey), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Inkssentials White Gel Pen (Ranger), Jewel brads (SU!), sewing machine, white thread, clear embossing powder (SU!), diamond stickles (Ranger), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), Sheer pink with white dots organdy ribbon, white grosgrain ribbon.

Hope you are having a fun St. Paddy's day. I am thinking of making green mashed potatoes, or cabbage roll casserole for dinner tonight. The kids and I are going to make these cute Leprechan faces , that I found on Jill Coopers blog, to attach as bag tags to some gold wrapped goodies (think almond kisses or werthers) and then go delivering to some friends.

Modern Pirate Frock at Grosgrain Fabulous

Grosgrain has another awesome giveaway. I am in love with this dress! It is so cute!! If you would like a chance to win, please click on the link below and follow the instructions there!!! I am hoping one day I will win one of these amazing outfits!

Modern Pirate Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Cabbage Roll Casserole

Like the taste of cabbage rolls but hate all the work? Here is a quick alternative that tastes SO much like a normal cabbage roll:

1 lb ground chicken breast skinless		2 ozs instant rice
1/2 cup onions, chopped		1/2 cup water
15 ozs Italian style tomato sauce		1/4 tsp salt
10 ozs coleslaw mix		1/8 tsp black pepper

In a large skillet, cook chicken and onions until chicken is no longer pink. Transfer mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add tomato sauce, coleslaw mix, rice, water, salt, and black pepper. Cooker will be full but cabbage will cook down. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours, or until cabbage is done.

And my winner is . . . .

I used random.org to determine my winner

Here are your random numbers:

38

Which means this comment is my winner:

ny2tx_patti said...

I love your purple card. Great job!

10:22 AM

Thanks to everyone who left a comment here on my blog and who participated in the blog hop! It was a great turn out for a first hop. Hopefully we will do more of these in the future. You can check here at SCS on the HANNA STAMPS forum for the whole list of winners.

FINALLY -- Concrete in my backyard is all done!!!

I am so excited. This is a big step toward getting the back yard done. Now we just need curbing, rock, sand, sprinklers and grass. Our goal is to have it done by summer! Here are some pictures of the work that got done yesterday - a patio extension, a sidewalk from the driveway to the covered patio, and then a sidewalk that goes up the side of the yard and around the playground as a bike path for the kids.

Chase Away the Friday the 13th Blues . . .

and hop along in the Hanna Stamps "Good Luck Blog Hop!" Who believes in paraskavedekatriaphobia (fear of Friday the 13th)??? NOT ME!!! Friday the 13th is FAR from scary around here!!! I am so excited about this! I mean, how fun is it to blurf and then have an chance to win SURPRISE GOODIE BAGS for doing so???

It's so easy -- all you have do to be entered is leave a comment on this post, and then blurf on over to Cindy's blog and rinse and repeat. You can enter once on each of the design team members blogs and there will be a winner chosen at random from the comments left on each blog on Monday . . . HOW COOL EH?!

If you are reaching this post out of sequence, the blog hop starts HERE at Kristi's blog. (Don't want you to miss all the possible opportunities to win.)

This card is for the Friday challenge (HSFC60) in the Hanna Stamps forum over on splitcoast. This week Jeanne challenged us to use diamonds in our design, cause 'Hanna sparkles like a diamond' I framed the sentiment in a diamond. I actually think it turned out really neat looking. Thanks for the challenge Jeanne.

Stamps: Perfect Package (Hanna Stamps), Birthday Wishes sentiment (Amuse) Paper: Elegant Eggplant (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Periwinkle Buttons (Around the Block Products) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: 1 3/8 & 1 1/4 square punches (SU!), Corner Punch (Paper Shapers), Clear Adhesive Rhinestones (Colorbok), Sewing machine, white thread, clear embossing powder, dimensionals, oval punch (SU!), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.)

Happy Blurfing,

Motorcycle Riley / MOJO77 / CC209

It's been one of those days. I seriously feel like I am SO not productive at all the last few days. Anyway, here is a quick card I whipped up for the Mojo Monday challenge (MOJO77).

I have neglected this guy and the guilt was just too much and I had to use him today. The color challenge, on SCS, was the perfect colors for a red hot motorcycle (Rose Red, Always Artichoke and Basic Black), which besides black is pretty much the only color to own right? Here is Mr. Riley, cruisin' down a strip of Arizona highway . . . born to be wild! Hope you like him!!!

Stamps: Motorcycle Riley (Hanna Stamps), Karen Foster Design Snap Stamps (Tiny Casual) Paper: Rose Red (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Always Artichoke (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), Cuttlebug machine (Provocraft), Spots & Dots embossing folder (Provocraft), Clear embossing powder (SU!), black dotted organdy ribbon (Michaels Stores Inc.), circle nestabilities, red glitter brads (The Paper Studio - Hobby Lobby), silver prismacolor pencil.

HANNA STAMPS - Bowling

I have been wanting to make this for weeks now, but somehow stuff just kept getting in the way and it kept getting pushed back and pushed back. Oh well, such is life.

This is a bowling bag tag. You would attach this to your ball bag, or even shoe bag, and it has your name and phone number in case you accidentally leave it behind at the alley.

Stamps: Bowling Hanna (Hanna Stamps), Karen Foster Design Snap Stamps - Tiny Casual Paper: Chocolate Chip (SU!), Pumpkin Pie (SU!), Daydream: Patio Umbrella (October Afternoon), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Clear embossing powder, diamond stickles (Ranger), Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), luggage tag, pink gingham ribbon (SU!), Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon (SU!), green with white polka dots organdy (Michaels Stores Inc.).

Leaf & Feather Farm - Maricopa, AZ

After we enjoyed a lovely pancake breakfast with our church, we had some time to kill until the guy who is doing our concrete came to measure,etc. so we decided to take a drive over to the Leaf and Feather farm that my friend had told me about. She said the kids would love it. We stopped at her house and got directions and then we were on our way. It was such a lovely day and it turns out the farm is not too far from our home at all.

I was totally excited by the awesome prices for plants/trees that they had there. We plan to go back when we are at that stage in completion of our back yard. The owners seemed knowledgeable and helpful, and just generally really nice. The kids had a lot of fun seeing the tropical birds that they had there.

Unfortunately the monkey they have was not interested in visiting, maybe next time. The kids had a lot of fun and it was a nice way to spend an hour.

A Pint of Chocolate St. Patty's Day Love . . .

I saw these plastic beer mugs in the $1 spot at Target (I *might* like shopping there), and I knew it would be perfect for this good luck Riley. I had been talking about this with my hubby a couple days before and we had talked about using a glass mug and how that would not work because 1) we love our mugs and 2) too expensive to waste. I had so much fun making this! I can't wait to give it away to someone on St. Patty's Day. Nothing beats a pint of almond kisses!!! I wrapped it in cellophane for easy delivery.

Stamps: Horse Shoe Riley (Hanna Stamps) Paper: Green Galore (SU!), Green Clovers 12x12 (Die Cuts With a View), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Clear Embossing powder (SU!), diamond stickles (Ranger), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), Assorted green and white ribbons, red line sticky tape, almond hershey kisses, $1 spot beer mug, cellophane.

St. Patricks Day is getting closer . . . have you thought of a fun way to celebrate yet? I saw some fun recipes on allrecipes to try. Link your fun and creative celebrating ideas to this post, I would love to hear what you and your little leprechans are doing this year!!!

HANNA STAMPS CHALLENGE - Easter Egg Riley, MOJO 76

I am responsible for today's Friday challenge on Hanna Stamps, and I decided since Easter is coming, my challenge to you is to create and Easter card/project and use eyelets on your card/project. I love eyelets and they seem to come and go in popularity, but I have so many so might as well use them right?

Of course, my eyelet experience would not be complete without my silent setter (Provocraft). If you don't have one of these, go check them out -- I am not affiliated with that company in any way, but trust me, you need one of these!!! For the record though on this project, I used "quicklets" from eyeletoutlet.com that can be set using a ball point pen. Check those out too!!! Pretty cool stuff.

Feel free to link your card/project in the comments here on my blog, and if you are uploading to Splitcoast, please use the keywords HSFC59. Can't wait to see what you all come up with! Happy Friday and Happy Stamping!!! Here is another sample I created about a week ago.

Stamps: Riley with Chick (Hanna Stamps), Bunny Hugs (SU!) Paper: Orchid Opulence (SU!), Pixie Pink (SU!), Tempting Turquoise (SU!), Green Galore (SU!), Sweet Mat Stack (Die Cuts With a View) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Flower Quicklets (Eyeletoutlet.com), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals (SU!), word window punch (SU), sewing machine, white thread, cuttlebug, swiss dots embossing folder (Provocraft).

SPA RILEY - Pedicure Gift Set

As usual I am playing catch up *sigh* One day I will be all fully recovered and caught up. At least I hope . . .

I think I picked this little gifty pedicure kit up at Target in the $1 spot a long time ago . . . it has been living in my "stash" of things to alter (an entire bookshelf full -- I am such a pack rat *embarrassed*). Anyway, as I was digging through it the other day, cleaning up my mess of a studio, I came across this and thought it would go perfectly with Spa Riley. I love the purple, it is so girly and fun!!! Hope it brightens someone's day!

Stamps: Spa Riley (Hanna Stamps), a Treat For You (Amuse) Paper: Lavender Lace (SU!), Garden Scattered Flowers (Paper Pizazz - Hot Off the Press), Solar White Classic crest (Neenah) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine, Lavender Lace Classic (SU!) Accessories: Diamond stickles (Ranger), Pink organdy ribbon, purple skinny multi toned grosgrain ribbon, copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), sponge

Guess what I caught???

Nope, not the flu or a cold (thank goodness) . . . I managed to catch the baby's elusive SMILE!!!

Hope you are having a day full of smiles too!!! This one sure brightened my day! This is for sure one of my favorite stages when he can't crawl or get around yet and get into trouble, but he can show me this adorable smiles!!!

St. Paddy's Riley Treat

I made this little treat box SO long ago, but saved it to show you all today so you could send a little luck of the Irish along to one of your friends. I colored Riley with my prismacolor pencils and gamsol with blending stumps. The box is an acetate sheet folded with the top and bottom of the box made with card stock. It was SUPER simple to create. It is filled with caramel DOVE chocolates that just happened to match perfectly. I bought them thinking they were gold and then when I opened it I was so excited because they not only were also green, but the right color green! Holy lucky!!! I used diamond stickles on Riley's pot of gold to make it shimmer! (see close up photo for detail)

Stamps: Shamrock Riley (Hanna Stamps) Paper: Glorious Green (SU!), More Mustard (SU!), Solar crest White (Neenah) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Sewing machine, black thread, acetate, red line sticky tape, diamond stickles, dove chocolates, mustard grosgrain ribbon, prismacolor pencils, gamsol, blending stumps