Thank you to my Bella Sistah!

A huge thank you to my Bella Sistah Jennifer Kraynak!! She sent me the most awesome package! First, a homemade Emmybella card with awesome paper and the cutest little brown brad on the flower with white design on it. I love it! Second, a CTMH Creative Basics kit including 16 12x12 papers and 8 yards of 3/8" Hollyhock Ric Rac Ribbon. I love the green, pink and yellow combo! Third, chipboard monogram letter sets for both of my girls Paige and Mackenzie! Lastly, and best of all, a CTMH stamp set, Endless Love. I cannot wait to start playing with this stamp set, paper and ribbon! I'm a paperaholic and just can't get enough! Thanks Jennifer, you rock!

They're Having a Baby!

I made this card for my friends who got married last July and just found out at Easter that they are pregnant! I'm sooooo excited for them!

I just love the fellas and bellas together! I used Crystal Ice stickles on her shirt and Starry Night stickles on the flower in her hair and the flowers on her skirt. I put the big flower together using a combination of flowers and then a lilac brad with white polka dots in the middle of it. This was a fun card to make and cute combination of colors!

Back from Fargo.... with a Smile!

I had a fantastic weekend in sunny Fargo!!! If you know me, or have read my posts, you know I have twin girls. I belong to a Moms for Multiples club in our local area. This past weekend, was the 34th Annual Minnesota Mothers of Multiples State Workshop. I’m feeling so relaxed and refreshed, boy did I really need that!!! I shared a room with 3 other moms from my club. We had such a good time and stayed up late each night laughing, talking, laughing again, so hard I had tears coming out of my eyes and even started snorting! This may sound silly to some, but this was the first time since my girls were born (over 2 years) that I’ve been away overnight by myself without kids or husband!

We stayed at the Ramada Suites in Fargo where Chris Daughtry and some of Bon Jovi’s crew were staying. Many of the moms saw Daughtry, met him and got autographs. There were 234 women there with twins, 9 women with 2 sets of twins, 34 women with triplets, 4 women with quadruplets, and 3 women with quintuplets. Is that crazy or what?! There were break-out sessions with speakers and presentations on different topics you could choose. We also went shopping at the mall across the street. I don’t know the last time I got to really shop, take my time and even try things on!!!

I got home last night about 6:00 in time for dinner with my hubby and the kids. Oh, this was also DH’s first time alone for a weekend with the kids! He said it was “perfect!” (Laughs!!) He wouldn’t tell me if it didn’t go perfectly if his life depended on it! He he he!! But that’s okay, I got what I needed this weekend and hopefully it will carry me through for a while!!!! He he he!

So today I made a card (3) for my three roommates on the trip! I feel like we bonded and are sort of Sistahs in Mommyhood of Multiples now! They are a great bunch, except for the fact that they are all originally from Wisconsin and are Packer fans!!! (They tried to convert me, but I’m a die-hard Vikings fan all the way!) I made a few mistakes in this one because I was hurrying over naptime, which is why I kept it for myself, but you’ll get the idea! I love this stamp and it’s the first time I’ve inked it up! I think I’ll be using it more in the future!

I used SU’s Cool Caribean paper for the card, Rose Red for the scallp trim, and then paper from SU’s Friends and Flowers Simply Scrappin’ Kit. Also used SU’s Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon and red brads. The dresses are colored with SU’s Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Certain Celery, and Close to Cocoa. I used stickles and crystal effects on the outfits to add some sparkle!

Happy "Belated" Birthday to my best Girlfriend, Ellen!

I made this card for Ellen, for her birthday (belated)! She is such a special friend, my maid of honor, and I wanted to find something to tell her how special she is to me. I found a Willow Tree "Heart and Soul" figurine. We met over 20 years ago while we were both in the Marine Corps and by chance ended up roommates! We've been through a lifetime of ups and downs with each other and have always remained close, like sisters! She lives in SC and I in MN, and we only get to visit about 1 time a year, but when we do, we pick up right where we left off! I knew when Huggybella was released that my first card with it would be for Ellen! Thanks for looking!

Hanna Goes for a Ride!

I had so much fun making this card! I was trying to capture my wild and rebellious side! :-)

Since having three kids and turning, uh, 29 plus change..... (he he he) I sometimes need to remember this side of myself and have some fun and relax!!! Speaking of, I am going on a trip this weekend to a Moms for Multiples Workshop!! I am soooooooooo excited! It will be my first time away from my kids and hubby for 2 nights! I really need this break and am looking forward to hanging out with adult women, the break out sessions, spa services, just having fun and doing whatever I want to!

Anyway, I used Crystal Effects on her pants to look like leather and also on her helmet to make it shine! I also used Silver Stickles on the rims and few other places to add some sparkle!!! I love the flower, it came with white petals and I just colored them with orange marker to match the card.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I wanted to post a thank you today to my great friend Andi who sent me this very pretty Huggybella card!!! I love the colors, the layout, and that it is colored to look like the two of us (that's me in the green, my favorite color!!! And the big blond curls!) She also used stickles to add some sparkle, we both love to use these all the time!!! Great job Andi!

I'd also like to thank two special ladies who commented on my post yesterday about Paigey. That was so sweet and thoughtful, Paige's medical issues have been a constant source of worry and not knowing what the future will bring, but we feel very blessed to have such a healthy, beautiful girl in spite of it all! Thanks especially to Kisha (Sunflowabella), your comments really touched my heart and brought a joyful tear to my eye! Thank you for making my day!

Sandie

Paige's Laser Treatment

Paige had her second sedated laser treatment last week. If you don't know me, one of my twin girls has Sturge Weber. I have a link at the right if you do not know what this is. Anyway, as a result of her Sturge Weber, Paige has a port wine stain on the right side of her face. During her first year, we did small non-sedated laser treatments at the dermatologist's office. We were told the port wine stain was just a surface condition and that once it was gone, you wouldn't know it was there. When she was about 18 months old and really resistant to the non-sedated treatments, our dermatologist sent us to another dermatologist at a hospital for sedated treatments. We then found out that because of the Sturge Weber, her port wine stain w0uld return time after time. Also, if not treated regularly, the affected area swells (such as her lip and lower cheek). So we are on track to do the sedated treatments every other month for a year and then determine to what extent and for how long the port wine stain is going away and lightening. After her first sedated treatment, she had very dark purple bruising from the laser itself. After two weeks the bruising went away and then for 4-5 weeks after that, we saw the stain lightening quite a bit. Right before the second treatment, we noticed it returning. So this is a picture of Paige after this last treatment with the bruising again. It will be another two weeks before we see it start to lighten again. Paige has been through numerous MRIs, EEGs, and other testing and sedated procedures (including for glaucoma in her right eye). She is a real trooper, the resiliency of children is amazing! It's made her very strong, she does not let anyone push her around and toughens things out, her twin sister on the other hand, is very much a Drama Queen and will not tolerate anything out of her comfort zone! :-) There is also a picture of my two handsome men, John & Parker, and one of the Drama Queen, Mackenzie!

Latest Bella Creations

Here are my latest Bellas that I have made since I last posted. I just lovey Rockabella and used her with my Rock Queen Mat Stacks, ribbon, etc. from Michael's. On the pink and black card, I used Crystal Effects on her pants to make them look like leather and silver stickles on her top. On the other one with the music note ribbon, I used white stickles on her guitar and raspberry baubles from Stamping Bella. On the Flowahbella, I still need to add something, but wanted to show her beautiful dress!! I used Orange Peel stickles which really POP!!! I love the color! And the Billybootabella, she is one of my favorites, I used Crystal Effects on her boots and umbrella and then Turqoise stickles on her dress. Punched the flower out of Tempting Turqoise paper from Stampin' Up! and some turqoise gem stickers from Callie (another Bellaholic and my last Bella Sistah)! I also faux-stitched the border in Chocolate Chip to match the Chocolate Chip background piece. I really love this color combination!

I also want to thank my great Bella Sistah Friend Andi for her continued support and encouragement in my stamping and blogging! She's a true inspiration to me and I recently had a great Sunday at her house stamping Bellas all day long! Take a look at her blog for some awesome Bellas! http://craftsonawhim.com/

I also wanted to thank Jennifer Kraynak, my newest Bella Sistah, for the great package she sent, see post below for pic, and to encourage her in starting a blog as well!!!

Whassssssuuuuuuppppp?!!! I've been sooo busy!

Wow, I cannot believe it's been a month and a half since I've posted to my blog! Daily life with three kids is getting the better of me, between kids' medical appointments, kids sick, pre-school, special classes at our house, and then my birthday and a week with my in-laws here..... have I missed anything?!!! I have managed to make a few cards. I have been back to my ol' standby favorite, Penny Black Hedgies!!! Hope you like them... I'll be posting some new Bellas soon! Just received my news ones... Yogabella, Booboobella and Tinkerbella! Can't wait to play with my new Bellas and all my goodies from my Bella Sistah (see picture attached!) Thanks for stopping by!