It's been too long!

Hi All,

Wow, Wow, WOW!  Can't believe a month has blown by and I'm so behind in my blog. 

The month of January went by in a blur.  Spent part of first week of the new year home sick.
Doctor said it was a sinus infection.  I think I figured that out on my own, judging by the number of tissues I was using.  No meds because it was viral.  10 days later, my nose was running like a faucet, so back to the doctors.  He said he thought I was at the end of it.  Well I wasn't.  7 days later I was back at the doctors' office. Now I had another full blown sinus infection, or maybe it was the first one still.  But that virus decided to share with my ears, so I had an ear infection and bronchitis.
Nothing that 10 days of pills couldn't cure.

So that's how I spent my last month!  Not fun but it could have been worse!

My drawer cleaning is still in progress and I will post some new scrapbook pages this week. 
To top that off, I'm excited to start my amazing journey with Fun Stampers Journey.  I'll share more later.

Hugs to all,
Chris

Starting My New Fun Stampers Journey

Hi All,

These days just seem to fly by like a hummingbird!  Sorry to say that I've not got much accomplished the past few day of cleaning out a drawer but I have made 4 sets of scrapbook pages.  Yippee!
Add to that my opening of my Fun Stampers Journey starter kit and I am one happy person.

I will take a couple photos of my starter kit, but for now, please enjoy these pages.  I seem to be on a butterfly kick lately.  Must have stocked up when they were on sale:)  

Hugs,
Chris

Sorry it's a little blurry.

 

 odds and ends I added for depth.

 

Fun Stampers Journey Coach 814771

Hi All,

It's Sunday...the day to make my major announcement.  Drum roll please.....

I am pleased and excited to say I am a Fun Stampers Journey Coach!
Fun Stampers Journey is your source for the best arts and craft stamps, paper arts supplies and ideas for paper crafts! 

After nearly two decades in the craft industry, Richard Garay founded Fun Stampers Journey with his wife, Gabby. Richard wanted to share not only his passion for creating but also provide a business opportunity for the creative individual.  Though stamps are the foundation of Fun Stampers Journey, we offer a complete collection of everything you need for papercrafting, gift giving, party hosting, and home décor.

Our product line is among the highest quality in the industry. The entire product line is designed to work seamlessly together, with coordinating cardstock, inks, printed paper, die templates and stamp sets.

Our color palette is comprised of 44 exclusive colors that are all designed to work seamlessly together. Our cardstock, ink colors and accessories are all coordinated to make creating easy, fun, and always beautiful.

All of our stamps are made in the USA of high quality red rubber and static cling mount. Our stamps create one of the best Impressions on the market, giving you a perfect crystal clear application on your cardstock.

Our True Color Fusion ink pads represent an innovation in stamping ink technology. These unique hybrid inks eliminate all the confusion over which ink to use for what surface – because they work on everything and are non-solvent inks. Because the ink is created by fusing both pigment and dye, you get the fast drying aspects of a dye base, but the true color of a pigment. They have no chalky residue and do not fade. They can be used on all types of materials, including paper, fabric, wood, and acrylic, and become permanent when heat set on non-paper materials.

I'm excited to share my Journey with you!
Hugs
Chris

So Far Behind!

Hi All,

Wow...Thursday, already?!  Sometime I wonder if my days were really longer, if I would accomplish all that I want to.  Or will I just be that much farther behind?! 

I'm still making progress in cleaning out a drawer, closet, cupboard or any other hiding spot.  I did clean out 2 drawers at work this week.  Does that count?  I really have cleaned out two more spaces in the house.  One drawer in spare bedroom and one drawer in my craft room.  I figure at this rate I will be done by the end of the year!

I also did another 4 scrapbook pages as well as a Valentine card kit for a friend.  Next on the list is a Congratulations card for a paper crafting group I am in. I've been with this group for I think 7 or 8 years now.  We are a small group, scattered all over the US.  I've been fortunate enough to meet a couple of the gals while I was at a convention several years ago.  It was a total fluke...saw a Facebook post from one of the gals about being at the convention.  We ended up meeting the next morning, crying with joy at the opportunity.  Terri, you're a dear and can't wait to see you again!

I have to run...still have much to do before the end of the night.  I leave you with my last 4 pages.
Hope you enjoy!
Hugs
Chris

PS:  My big announcement will be this weekend!  I'm so very excited!

I love this layout!  Orange is not a go to color for me but I must say...this works!

I've had this flower forever!  So happy to use if finally.

I Stickled the butterfly for some extra pizzazz.

 

 More Stickles on the leaves.  They just needed something to help them pop!

Beautiful Moments     Definitely did not see this color combo coming on!

 "This one Moment in time will be forever etched in my Memory"

 

I think I have finally used every butterfly I've collected over the years.  

Then again I may still have more butterflies!

 

 

 

Monday Musings

Hi All,

I think Monday is the most dreaded day of the week.  For most of us, after 2 days of rest & relaxation, it's back to work, the kids go back to school.  It's trying to find how to squeeze another hour in a day, contemplating dinners for the week.  Planning for all the errands that will undoubtedly, at least for me, fall on the very next weekend of which I should be resting and relaxing!  Somebody stop this merry-go-round will ya!  Maybe I will win the $ 1.4 billion dollar lottery.  If I do, I want it all in $20's.  Easier to spend in small bills...LOL!

While I'm dreaming of fortune and fame, please enjoy the next 2 page spread that I have done.  A friend gave me this paper at a crop and told me to make something out of it.  Well Ms. Hamm....here you go!  Hope you like it.

Hugs,
Chris



 for some strange reason my close up pics are importing upside down...LOL!  Just a cute travel page.  Very masculine in color.  Notice the split picture in the middle.  Don't be afraid to split pictures into two pages.  Gives the layout some depth and interest.  The light brown is actually corrugated paper.  I crumpled the "Sightsee" word and inked it.  Adds some interest to an otherwise flat surface.

 

 

A Big Change Heading My Way

Hi All,

I'm getting ready for a big change in my life. Something new is coming that will help me spark that creativity I have burning in the back of my brain!  I can't wait to share it with you, but you'll have to be patient a week or so longer. 

I've been sticking to my index card schedule that I mentioned in my last post.  I cleaned out the linen closet yesterday, made a scrapbook page and checked out a website I had noted several months ago.  I'm in day 5 of this annoying sinus infection and am still feeling a little punk from it.  But today I cleaned out the medicine cabinet, made a 2 page spread and also checked out a grocery website that I've been neglecting for some time.  I'm making headway on my "home bucket list" but it seems to be growing...and growing. 

I did want to make a scrapbook page a day, but if I make a double page layout does that actually count as two pages?  While I'm checking out the websites I've wanted to visit, I'm finding more and more to view.   It's like Pinterest.  You say to yourself, "Self you can sit down for 10 minutes and check your web sites".  The next thing you know an hour or 4 have flown by in the blink of a curser!
Such is life!  

Well...here's a couple more pages I made.  So if I count each page as one and I want to do a page a day, I'm only 6 pages behind!

Hope you enjoy and remember---Have fun & Stamp on!
Hugs
Chris



I love pearls with black & white!

Used 3 different papers and layered them.

I love this ribbon with the beadwork!

Doilies were inked black, pink just didn't cut it.

 The final spread!

Happy New Year

Hi All,

Sorry this is late.  Have a really bad bug and it's been keeping me down for the first week of the 2016!  Had the same thing in December.  I certainly hope this is the last of it till next year!

Happy New Year to you all.  I'm looking forward to a great new adventure this year.  I'm stepping down from Stampin' Up and will be moving forward with a new company.  I can't spill the beans right now, but it's sure going to be fun! 

In the interim I have been working on some scrapbook pages.  I've been trying hard to use my stash of goodies that I would have otherwise tried to sell at a local garage sale for scrapbookers and stampers. 

I've set up an index card box with a chore a day on it.  So far I have 3 chores that need to be done each day.  Check out a website that I found in the paper, magazine or online and made a note of.  Too often I write them down but don't visit the site. Another one is to clean out a drawer, any drawer as long as it's cleaned out.  And the last one is to make a scrapbook page or card.  Needless to say, I'm already behind!   Without further adieu...here's my first 2 pages!

Enjoy and stay crafty!
Chris

 Loved the color combo. It just works!

 How often do you use your velium words?






These flowers just go with the sticker found in a box.





Another cute find that goes perfectly.



Some cute flowers.

 

Blogging Friends Blog Hop--Holiday Beginnings

Hi All,

Welcome to the December edition of  Blogging Friends Blog Hop!  My friends and I have been busy created some amazing items to share.  This months theme is centered around the holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah or a snow theme.

If this is your first time around my blog....Welcome!  I'd love it if you would follow me.  And please don't forget to leave me a comment.

If you are following the blog hop, you've traveled here from Anna M's page.  She's a very creative lady!

Here's what I've created....

I purchased some inexpensive white candles and made a trio using the Sleigh Ride Edgelits dies.  I cut each die out using a scrap piece of paper.  I used that as a template and sponged Night of Navy onto the candle above the die cut.  I then used Crystal Effects on the white part of the candle and glittered it with white glitter.  I also used some green, red, gold & brown stickles for added pizzaz!
See below for some of the items used to create these.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I decided to get really busy and make another project....

I created a mantle banner for our living room!  It was fun deciding how to decorate my trees.  I just love the versatility of the Festival of Trees stamp set.  You could design a new tree every day for a month!  The paper in the Merry Moments paper stack is sure to bring a smile. The plaid, polka dots and ornaments will make some cute items.  I also used a red, green and white stickles to give my trees some dimension.  See below for the items used to create this.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

If you are interested in purchasing any of the above items, please click on the Stampin Up Holiday catalog to the right.  It will lead you to my online store. 

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you've enjoyed my creations!  Don't forget to leave me a comment.  Click the button below to continue on to Libby's blog.

Or click on a name below

1.) Crystal Komara

2.) Lisa Kmiec      

   3.) Anna Masciovecchio

4.) Chris Pochatek---You are here!   

5.) Libby Fens 

6.) Anne Power 

7.) Danica Ferrante

8.) Deb Smart

9.) Jessica Mink 

10.) Mary Blocher  

  

Blogging Friends Blog Hop--November, a Time for Reflection

Hi All,

    Welcome to the November edition of Blogging Friends Blog Hop!

     It's November 1st and for most of us that brings thought of holiday dinner, turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce.  All the food groups we love but only seem to eat once or twice a year. Personally, I think cranberry sauce is underrated.  Especially homemade. Nothing like the aroma of cranberries simmering on the stove...pop, pop, pop they go. I have a great recipe for cranberry relish that I make 3 or 4 times before the cranberries disappear from the groceries.  I freeze it in tubs for the warmer weather.  It's very refreshing to eat on a hot summer day, especially with some grilled chicken and vegetables.  I'll post the recipe later this week.

    November makes me thing of everything turkey!  So I had lots of ideas for this months Blogging Friends Blog Hop challenge which is Thanksgiving/Fall themed.  This little guy came to me while I was at work.  Just popped into my brain.  I rushed home and put him together in no time flat.

I hand cut his beak and used the Espresso ink pad to color a pie piece box I received in a Paper Pumpkin kit earlier in the year.  You just never know what might show up in your Paper Pumpkin kit or how you may end up using them!

I hope you enjoy him!


Here's some of the supplies I used to create him.  The tail feathers, arms & wattle are all Vintage Leaves stamped & die-cut.  I used the Early Espresso stamp pad to color my pie box. I used my triangle punch for the beak. The eyes were punched as well.  His sign is hand written.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I made a second project for the Blogging Friends Blog Hop.  I wanted to show my appreciation for some lady friends at a crop I was at recently. 

 The picture doesn't do it justice.  There were a couple chocolate Kisses inside each box.  And a pull out pop up card. The card fit inside in a nice neat little folded package so when it was pulled up each person got a special message from me telling the I was grateful for them!  

Thanksgiving is a great time of year to embrace your family and friends and let them know they are truly special and loved.

I am grateful for my wonderful husband and children, my loveable grandkids, all my family and my friends.  I carry them with me always in my heart.

Wishing you all a
 Blessed Thanksgiving! 


                             This is the inside card from the box.


Here's the supplies I used to make this treat box.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Make sure you hop on by to see what the rest of the group is doing. 

1. Crystal

2. Lisa

3. Anna M

4. Chris---You are Here!

5. Libby

6. Anne P 

7. Danica

8. Deborah

9. Jessica

10. Jodi

11. Mary

Friday again??!

Well....here I am at Friday again!  Where does the time go.  Seems to just quietly creep right by me.

Life's been pretty noisy this past week.  I've been preparing for a 2 day crop & I will be the Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I've made a easy Christmas card for the make and take using Night of Navy & Whisper White paper with the new Sleigh Ride Edgelits dies.  I totally cased it, but made it my own in small ways.

I had supervision while preparing my demo card.  My cat baby, Roma, set on my table watching me like...hmm, how do I say...well like only a cat can.  She was in her vulture pose, poised to strike at anything that suited her fancy.  Scissors, twine, pieces of paper and egad, a stamp pad.  I can picture my rug and hardwood right now with little paw prints in Blackberry Bliss and Blue Lagoon...hahaha.

I also made a really cute something-something special for each of the ladies who will be attending.
I'll give you more information on that later.  (No...Roma did not supervise while assembling these.) 

I have so much stuff to bring to this crop, that I've enlisted the help of my husband.  When I asked him if he wanted to go help me set up, he told me that he's not interested in scrapbooking with me LOL!  Bless his poor heart....I almost didn't want to hurt his feelings and tell him it wasn't an invitation to scrap with me, I just need the muscle to unload the car!  I will insist he wears steel toe shoes though.  Funny story and I will share it share with you soon.

While I was pulling papers, ribbons, inks and all the other myriad of paper crafting supplies I needed to take with me, I found several cards I made that I had totally forgotten about.   I'll post them this weekend, live from the crop. 

Until then...Have Fun & Stamp On!
Hugs,
Chris