"Looking For A Widget"

When Katie and I tried to make my blog a three column blog I lost a few things from my page. I am looking for the "Who's Linking Here" widget from Technorati. If you have it on your blog can you let me know so I find it from yours. Thanks. It is so bugging me. I have been to the site but I can't find the one I am looking for.
Thanks in advance.

Rochelle

"Molly's Creations"

I went to Molly's class yesterday for their Fall party. These are the things that Molly made. She was so excited to have mom in her class and to do some crafts. At their party, they frosted cookies, frosted and decorated cupcakes, and made these three treats. We borrowed two 6th graders to help out at the party and they also got to make the treats. They were so glad that they got picked to help. It was so fun. I over heard some of the kids say that it was the best day of their lives. How cute is that? The other first grade class had a Fall party too, only they had fruit and veggie trays. LOL I think our class had the better party.

Happy Halloween!

"Matchbook Spider Treats"

I just read yesterday's post. Talk about boring. LOL I guess I didn't have much to say. Sorry.

I made these for Sarah to pass out to her class. I like to make the same things for both girls but in different colors. Cut the cardstock 8 1/2 x 3. Sore at 5 inches and 1 inch. Decorate the front, attach the candy with a staple and close. How simple is that!! The fun size M&M's are a perfect fit for these. Here is the link to the other ones and directions and a picure of the inside.

This afternoon I am going to Molly's class to do some Halloween crafts with the kids. We are going to make Frankenstein wrapped Hershey bars, spider sammiches, and pumpkin sammiches. Only one other parent volunteered to help out today so that is why I am doing three projects. The teacher wanted 4 things. So the other parent is frosting cookies. I can't wait. Molly is pretty excited to have me come too. I already put the Hershey bar wrapper together and crimped the bottom so all they have to do is draw the mouth and scar, add the eyes and nose.

Stamps: Trick Or Treat
Paper: Old Olive, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive
Accessories Scor-Pal, Giga and Mega Scallop Square, M&M's, Stapler

"Belli Challenge # 40 Thanksgiving"

This weeks challenge is Thanksgiving. I love thanksgiving. I love to cook the dinner and have family around. Since we don't have family here in Cali we invite the single guy at my husband's work over every year. I don't have any Happy Thanksgiving greetings so I printed my greeting out on the computer in the SU Really Rust color.


Stamps: Little Layers II
Paper: Really Rust, Old Olive, Confetti Cream
Ink: Really Rust, Old Olive

Check out what the other design team members did for this weeks challenge.
Chris Dickinson
Holly Brown
Danita Hollander
Shelly Koskinen
Jennifer Greco
Joan Ervin
Ceal Pritchett
Lori Ames
Sarah Anderson

"Tile Coaster Question"

I have a questions for you about tile coasters. I am going to do these for my upcoming Christmas class. I think I know what I'm doing but I want to make sure I am doing it right. I am going to use grape stamps, leaves, and the french script background stamp. I have stazon inks. I am going to stamp the french script background on first in black, then the leaves and grapes in green and purple. This is where I am stuck. I know that some people bake them in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes to heat set them, which we can't do at the class but they could do it at home. Some people also spray them which we can't do there either. So my question is, do the tiles have to be heat set or can you use them as is after stamping? If you have made them before, do you have any tips for me? If they have to be heat set, I am going to give them directions to do that along with felt feet to adhere to the back so they won't scratch the furniture, and I am also going to give them organdy ribbon to tie them up to give as gifts if they want. Each person is going to make 4 coasters.
Any information or links would be really helpful.

I went to the doctor today and he said my finger looks great. It is still very swollen and that is normal. I can bend it pretty good now but now I have to work on straightening it out. He asked if I wanted to go to hand therapy to speed up the process a little but when I asked him if I needed it he said, no it looks like I am doing a great job with it now. Woo Hoo!! I didn't want to go to therapy. So I go back in a month. Hopefully I will be able to straighten it by then. I am also hoping that the nerves come back soon. I can't hold a pencil the normal way cause it is too painful to the touch. My writing has improved though, I don't write like a 3 year old anymore. LOL

"Coral Butterfly"

I love black and Cameo Coral together, don't you? I also love how simple this card is. Sometimes I wish I could make those elaborate cards like some people with tons of layers and lots of different textures and embellishments, but that is not my style. I guess I prefer the simple.

My daughter tried to help me make a three column blog the other day and things got messed up. We got it figured out but it wasn't exactly what I wanted so we went back to the old one and I ended up loosing my banner and some of the stuff on the right. I have tried to get the banner back but it won't put it on for some reason. When I go to add it, it shows it to me as if it is there but when I save it, it's gone. I am going to have to figure it out.
Stamps: Flight Of The Butterfly
Paper: Cameo Coral, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Cameo Coral, Basic Black
Accessories: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, SU Scallop Border Punch, White Gel Pen

"Flight Of The Butterfly"

I know I am going to love this set. I bought it because Sarah's teacher loves butterflies. Her class room is full of them. I already know that I am going to make her some cards and gifts through out the year, so I wanted to make sure I had something that she likes. I have only made a few cards so far with this set but I already know it is going to get a lot of use. By the way, a stamp-a-ma-jig is a must for this set, that's for sure.

This one I don't like as much as the first one. I think I got a little carried away with the background. I think it would look better in other colors. I also added stickles in the centers of the flowers and I don't care for that either. (on this card) It just doesn't match well.
Stamps: Flight Of The Butterfly
Paper: Basic Gray, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Stickles

"Got My Order"

I got my SU order. Woo Hoo!!!
I got 3 packs of designer paper, 16 packs of colored cardstock, 2 packs of white, Upsy Daisy, Flight of the Butterfly, Holiday Trinkets, the hostess set with the greetings, 2 in color ink pads and some olive grosgrain. I can't wait to play this weekend. I need to finish Sarah's class treats, and prep for the harvest party in Molly's class room next week and make some thank you cards. For molly's class party, we are going to make Frankenstein wrapped Hershey Bars, Spider Sammiches, and Pumpkin Sammiches. Her teacher wanted to do 4 projects and no one else volunteered. So I am going to do three of them and suggest frosting cookies for the 4th project. I can't believe that none of the other moms are crafty and would want to come in and share a project with the kids. Oh well, I'm a rock star I guess. LOL

"Matchbook Pumpkin Treats"

Sorry, I thought I posted these yesterday. I made these for Molly's class for her to pass out on Halloween. I love making these cause they are very easy to make.
Here are the directions. I used the Scor-Pal to score these. It is so fast to do them. It literally took 3 minutes to score 20 of them.

I scored the paper while it was still 8 1/2 x 11 and then cut it. If you don't have a Scor-Pal you have to get one. It ROCKS!!
Cut the cardstock 8 1/2 x 3. Sore at 5 inches and 1 inch. Decorate the front, attach the candy with a staple and close. That's it. Easy Peasy!

Stamps: Trick Or Treat
Paper: Only Orange, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Only Orange
Accessories: Scor-Pal, Black Stickles, Stapler, Giga and Mega Scallop Square

"Pumpkin Poo"

These didn't turn out exactly how I wanted them to but they work. My neighbor borrowed my markers the other day so I used my kids Crayola markers. Worked out pretty good eh? I like making these. They are easy, cheap, and people think they are cool. I am going to put these in the Frankenstein boxes for the teachers along with some spider sammiches and what ever else I can come up with. Now I just need to get the treats done for the kids classes and I am done with Halloween. Then I can move on to Christmas. Yes, I skip Thanksgiving. I don't know why. Ok, I do know why. Living in Cali with the rest of our family in MN it is just us for the holidays. If I was back home then maybe I would do something special for Thanksgiving, but for now, I just skip it.

Cut orange cardstock 3 x 5. Score 2 7/8 from each side on the 5 inch side. Use corner rounder on all four corners. Cut black piece of cardstock 2 ¾ x 1 7/8 and round two corners. Cut 17 inches of ribbon. Place it where you want it and adhere the black piece to the orange piece. Having the ribbon between the two pieces of cardstock. Punch a 1 inch hole towards Bottom so that the tic tacs show through. Decorate front. Fold like a book and place a glue line or glue dot on side of tic tac container and adhere to the spine of the book and you’re done.

Stamps: Hero Arts
Paper: Only Orange, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: Black and Tangerine Grosgrain Ribbon, CM Corner Rounder, 1 Inch SU Circle Punch, Glue Lines, Tic Tacs, Crayola Markers

"Urban Garden"

I hope you all had a great weekend. I did. It was very relaxing. Friday I went to my stamp class. Even though I wasn't teaching it I wanted to show up and say hi to everyone. It was fun. Carrie did some of the cards and projects that I was going to do so that was cool. Everyone had a good time too. Saturday and Sunday we just hung out. I even got a nap in. Woo Hoo. I love taking naps. I just got the SU scallop border punch and Eastern Blooms and I can't wait to play with those soon. I also placed an order for tons of paper and Upsy Daisy, and Flight of the Butterfly stamp sets. I can't wait for that to come in. Sarah's teacher loves butterflies so I am excited to make her some special things with that stamps set.
This card was one that we did at Carrie's open house. I love the simplicity of this card and how it is monochromatic except for the splash of color from the felt flower.
Stamps: Curly Label Punch Bundle
Paper: Basic Gray, Urban Garden DP
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Curly Label Punch, Felt Flower, Silver Brad, Gray Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals

"Frankenstein Treat Boxes"

I was going to make these for my parks and rec class tonight, but because of my hand I am not teaching the class. Yes, I am totally bummed. My friend Carrie is teaching this one for me and possibly my November one as well. It will all depend on weather my finger decides to cooperate or not. I have seen so many of these cute Frankenstein boxes, I just had to make some. These are going to the teachers. I am going to get some black paper shred, put it in the box and fill them with candy. Man, those teachers are so dang lucky. LOL

Did you notice the brads? They are screws. My friend Kristine sent them to me a while back and I thought they would be prefect for Frankenstein's handle. I have seen them at Michael's but but not Joanns. They are perfect for guy cards too.
Paper: Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Pixie Pink, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive
Accessories: Scor Pal, Scor Tape, Googlie Eyes, Screw Brads, SU Marker, Sponge, 1 1/4 SU Circle Punch

"Spider Sammiches"

How cute are these little buggers? I know right. I totally cased these from nilakias on SCS. When I saw these I just knew I had to make these for the office staff at school. I hadn't figured out what to make them yet and this is perfect. I love how people think of the cutest things to make with the punches. No stamping involved for these little guys. I can't use the punches with my hand but now I am the master of the floor punch. Ha ha ha.
My doctor's appointment Tuesday went very well. The incision is completly closed now so that is good. The doctor wants me to keep trying to bend it but it is still swollen and doesn't really bend much. I was concerned about the swelling so I asked the doc and he said that it will be swollen for at least 6 more weeks. I was shocked. 6 more weeks?? I guess why that is why they said that it would be at least 4 months before I get full mobility back in my hand.

Paper: Basic Black, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Real Red, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White
Accessories: SU Scallop Punch, SU Photo Corner Punch, 1/4 Inch Hand Held Circle Punch, 1/2 Inch Hand Held Circle Punch, SU White Gel Pen, Glue Dots, York Peppermint Patties

"Belli Challenge #38-Clips"

What is a Belli Challenge you ask? Each week Chris Dickinson posts a challenge that will help us use things we have lying around our stamp rooms! You can find more information here. This weeks Belli Challenge is clips. I wasn't sure that I was going to do this challenge cause I don't have any clips lying around the house. But lucky me, at my friend's open house we did a project with ginormous paper clips. I made a book marker with mine. My oldest reads so fast that she probably doesn't need a book marker but I gave it to her anyway. (p.s. she read this book in 3 days)

Check out the different ways the other ladies on the design team used clips.
Chris Dickinson
Shelly Koskinen
Ceal Pritchett
Debby McGivillary
Courtney Fowler
Lori Ames
Stamps: Eastern Blooms
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Ginormous Paper Clips, Dimensionals

"Autumn Vine Paint Can"

I won this super cute clear paint can at my friend Carrie's open house last weekend. I love it. She had several different ones all made with the Autumn Vine DP with matching RSVP Pens. Inside was filled with 4 stampin' spots and a sale-a-bration stamp set. What a great door prize. The paint can she got from Stampendous. I need to get started on my treats for the girls classes here soon. I am falling behind. Stupid paper cut! I go to the surgeon again today for my 2 week follow up. I can't believe that it has been two weeks already. Things are going well I guess. Still no feeling in my finger but my typing is almost back to normal and I can at finally do my hair and my girls hair. That is a huge plus for me. Have you ever asked your husband to put your hair in a pony tail? Try it. They have no idea what they are doing and it is either too loose, too tight, or crooked. LOL That's it for me today. I am going to get ready to go to the doctor and I will see ya all back here tomorrow.
Paper: Autumn vine, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Clear Paint Can, Stitched Ribbon, CM Cutting Tools, RSVP Pen, Tacky Tape, Micro Beads, Heat Gun

"Upsy Daisy"

Is this card gorgeous or what? I love it. I love it so much that I am ordering this stamp set. I made this card at my friend/demo Carrie's open house. Interesting color combo too. Pumpkin Pie and Not Quite Navy. I would have never put these two colors together had I not seen it on a card. After I stamped the image, I sponged not quite navy and pumpkin pie in the background, then added stickles around the edge. I can't wait until I get this set. I think it will look great with any color combo as well.

Do you want to hear a funny story from when I was in the hospital last week? Ya know how when you come out of surgery you say stupid things? Well, here's what I did. I had to be hooked up to oxygen for 10 hours after my surgery and I kept pushing my finger up the bridge of my nose like every two minutes. Tony was like, "what are you doing"? So I said, "My glasses keep falling down and I can't get them to stay up". He ignored me at first but then after several times of me saying it He's was like, "Rochelle, you don't wear glasses". I didn't get it. Cause for the next two hours that he was there I kept doing it and getting mad cause my glasses wouldn't stay up. After a few hours, I finally remembered that I didn't wear glasses, but I couldn't stop trying to push them up. It turns out that the sensation of having the oxygen tube behind my ears reminded me of glasses. I knew that I didn't wear glasses but I couldn't physically stop myself from saying out loud that my glasses were falling down and it was bugging me. Silly ha? I bet those doctors and nurses hear the funniest things.
Stamps: Upsy Daisy
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: SU Top Note Die, Sponge Daubers, Diamond Stickles, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Big Shot

"Happy Thanksgiving To My Canadian Friends"

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends out there!! Isn't this a fun card? Seriously, who looks at a leaf stamp set and sees a turkey? Not me that's for sure. I cased this card from splitcoast. I make this card every year cause it is so dang funny. This is the first card I made at home since my hand surgery. You would think I would have picked one a little easier than this, but I didn't. This was also the first time I picked up a pair of scissors since my surgery. That wasn't easy either, but I did it. Woo Hoo!! I put my thumb in one hole and my ring finger in the other. The greeting is a $1 stamp from Michael's that I got a couple years ago and never used. I didn't even think I had any Happy Thanksgiving stamps. Have a great day everyone!
Stamps: Fall Whimsy, Michael's $1 Stamp
Paper: Old Olive, Really Rust, More Mustard, Real Red, Close To Cocoa
Ink: Old Olive, Really Rust, More Mustard, Real Red, Close To Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Googlie Eyes

"Gingerbread Man Jar"

This candy jar was one of the projects we did at stamp camp last week. I believe the jar came from IKEA. For the image I inked it up with SU markers to get two colors. I filled it with red hots. Super cute ha? This was one of the projects that I could do myself cause Carrie punched the scallop circle and the background circle for me. So all I had to do was ink up the stamp, fill the jar and put the image on the lid. I love making these. They are fun to give away too. I usually get my jars from Cost Plus World Market. They come in a 4 pack for $3.99. It is a cute cheap workshop project too. I hope you all have a great weekend.
Stamps:Deer Friends (hostess)
Paper: Real Red, Close To Cocoa, Whisper White
Accessories: SU Markers, SU Scallop Circle Punch, Marvy Circle Punch(Red Circle Mat) (blue Marvy punch, Glue Dots, Red Hot Candies

"Hand Update"

I went to see the surgeon and the physical therapist on Tuesday and they both were happy with my heeling process. Even though I think it looks gross, they both said that it looks good. I'm not a doctor so I am going to agree with what they said. LOL I decided to take pictures each week to document the heeling process. The pictures don't look that different from the pictures I shared after the surgery so I won't post those. I will wait until there is a noticeable change. (maybe they won't be so gross then) The physical therapist said that I don't have to see him again, which I was happy about, but that means I am responsible for my own therapy. They want me to start bending it to try to make a fist. It doesn't hurt to do that but it doesn't really bend that way too well cause it is still pretty swollen. The part that hurts is when I extend the finger back or try to straighten it out. It sends pain up my whole arm like I got struck by lightening. The surgeon said that is because of the nerves. I have to bend it till it hurts and then try to go a little more. That is really hard because the pain is so bad when I do that, no matter how much pain medication I have in my system. Thanks again everyone for your e-mails, cards, goodies, and for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. It really means a lot to me. I have to say that the stamping community has to be the kindest most generous people in the world.
The rose is from the rose bush in my front yard. Beautiful ha?

"Going Pink For October"

My friend Kristine made me this cool banner for October. Notice the breast cancer ribbon hanging off the tree branch? Kristine and I were talking about her new banner that she made a few weeks ago and she said how easy they were to make, so I told her that she should make new ones for every season. I didn't expect her to make me one so when she sent it to me I was so excited. I changed my background to pink for the month of October and added her banner. Thanks Kristine! I love it!

"In The Stars"

This is one of the cards that we did at stamp camp on Saturday. I could do this one because Carrie had all of the stars already punched out. All I had to do was stick them on. The polka dot paper isn't Stampin' Up paper but it looks like the paper from Jersey Shore so if you had that you could use it. I go to my first physical Therapy appointment Tuesday. I am not looking forward to it. I think it is going to hurt. I also see the surgeon Tuesday. I hope things are heeling as well as they are supposed to. I will keep you posted.
Stamps: In The Stars
Paper: Gable Green, Green Galore, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Non SU Pattern Paper
Ink: Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: SU Markers, SU White Gel Pen, Dimensionals, SU Star Punches

"Bat Purse"

I just wanted to thank you all again for your comments and e-mails. It really makes me feel better. It sucks right now. I think I am starting to get feeling back in my hand a little bit and the 2 vicodin every 6 hours isn't cutting it right now. AGH!!! It is so painful.
Anyway, I thought that since I spent 5 terrible days in the hospital that I needed a different atmosphere when I got out. (not that coming home to see my family and my mom wasn't good enough for me, but you know what I mean, I wanted to be around stamps, ink, and anything crafty) (anything but paper that is. LOL) It was the first day of stamp camp and I just wanted to go. I knew that I couldn't stamp but I just wanted to be there. Carrie said the she was going to stamp everything for me so I could have all the projects. Thanks Carrie! I picked out what paper and ribbon I wanted to use and Carrie made it for me. Check out the bat. It was made with a SU scallop square punch cut in half and snipped with scissors to make a bat. Cleaver ha? Here is where you can find video tutorial for this candy purse.
Stamps: All Holidays
Paper: Ghostly Greetings, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: SU Clear Envelope, Tacky Tape,Candy, Ribbon, Rectangle Hand Punch, Velcro Dots

"I'm Home"

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate it a lot. I am home now finally, I thought that I was going to be in the hospital forever. I went to the emergency room Tuesday night because my hand swelled up super huge and I got a huge blister filled with who knows what and I was starting to get red streaks up my arm and on the palm of my hand. I could not bend my finger at all.



What happened was on Sunday I got a paper cut that got infected on Monday night while I was sleeping with either a strep or staph infection. I went to my doctor on Tuesday morning and she gave me a tetanus shot and an super powerful anti-biotic shot (in the butt) she sent me home with prescription pain killers and an anti-biotic and said if it gets worse come in Wednesday, otherwise come in Thursday for a follow up. Well, later Tuesday night the infection just took off. I had to have surgery Wednesday so they could scrape the infected tissue off of my tendon. It was real bad. When I went in for the surgery, the surgeon couldn't guarantee that I was going to come out with my finger. I was so scared. They did get all of the infected tissue out and I still have my finger and the use of my hand. I was very lucky. It was too swollen to close the incision and they said that I might have to go back to surgery next week to close it but after looking at it after the surgery, the doc said that he is pretty sure it will close on it's own. Which is good, I didn't want to have another surgery. I have to do physical and occupational therapy on it and won't have full mobility of my hand for at least 4 months. I can't believe it. A paper cut. I got released from the hospital on Saturday and I am glad to be home.

These are the after pictures. Sorry they are super gross I know. I didn't know if I should post them or not. I probably shouldn't have cause they are yucky. But at least it is better and I just have to heal now.

I had my first stamp camp Saturday and I wasn't going to stamp but after an hour I couldn't help myself. I used my left hand and the stamp-a-ma-jig and the cards I made didn't look too bad. I only made two of them cause that's all I could handle. I hope to get back to stamping soon. I already miss it so much. I will post the things that I made at stamp camp and I will have to go from there. Thanks again for your well wishes and for keeping me in your prayers. And sorry for the gross pictures. LOL

Rochelle is in the Hospital

I am writing this for my mom (Rochelle). She went to the ER Tuesday night with an infected cut on her finger. She ended up having surgery on Wednesday. She's doing great and it is clearing up. She wont have full use of her hand for 3-4 months. She will also be doing occupational therapy. Just wanted to let you all know that she will be in the hospital until Saturday. She will post an update then.

-Katie