Hope Your Easter Weekend was the Best

So legionnaires....I tried to post on Friday PM, but blogger wasn't cooperating and I was in a hurry. I had both dds's (grammer?) with me and their families. We were laughing, cooking and teasing each other other for the entire weekend. Eldest dd headed back to CA and was on the road just crossing into CA when the earthquake hit. She lives in Altadena which is a town near Pasadena. We're praying all is well as we were only able to reach her once on her cellphone.
Here is AZ, we felt it too. I thought it was my blood pressure going up or maybe my little home-made desk was caving in under the weight of my ginorous printer. I never thought it was an earthquake. My youngest dd knew right away and called me to see if I was alright. And I'm like, telling her I felt a little dizzy and maybe I better get to bed early tonight. Silly me! I know for sure, that CA is not for me. I don't do earthquakes, mudslides, floods, hurricanes or fires well at all. I live in AZ for many reasons and don't need tremors either, thank you.
On the card front, here is the last Easter card I'll show, though I have a few more. It's time to move on, don't ya' think? The stamp is a Michael's $ stamp and the border around the scalloped circle is DRS. I meant to get more of these, but forgot. Now, I think that there are a few other on-line companies that sell them too. The papers are from an old scrap pad that my dd gave me. Some bling, ribbon, button, floss, and coloring, plus hand-drawing finish off this card.
So now begins the long-haul w/o a holiday. When I was working, I used to hate this time of year...ya know, two months and no holiday can be a real drag to a career woman.
Enjoy Monday through Friday
Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Spring Days

Hmmm, when exactly do morning glories bloom? I remember them growing in New York, twining about a cyclone wire fence we had in our backyard. I loved the blue color of these delicate flowers.
Sooo, here's my Becca Feeken style card. Oh alright, I know I can't even begin to come close to the Queen of Elegant  (and here you might argue that Jeri Jiminez A Touch of Grace, holds that title). Well, a woman can dream, right? So, I used one of those pendant Nesties I had to have...fleur de lis, satin beige ribbon, oval Nesties, ds paper from My Mind's Eye Simply Delightful line and watercolor paper. I colored with some of the few Copics I have. Speaking of Copics. I have abour 40. At $6 each (about), that's $240. YIKES...did I really spend that much on a set of markers? I already had a complete set of SU markers, quite a few Tombos, approximately 75 Prismacolor pencils, plus a nice supply of water color pencils, 3 different sets of pastel chalks, a tray or two of water colors, 40 or so H2Os. Fine! If you must know, I believe I have spent $1000 on color mediums. And I'm starting to feel awful about it. So, I'm done buying Copics. I'll buy refills and nothing more. But, I digress. The sentiment is a wee one from a Hero Arts set, a gem I found in Michaels, and the flower image is CTMH's Treasure Life. Sorry about the messy background of this pic. It was taken on one of my late forays into the night.
Hope you're having a great week.
Hugs & Blessings,
Erica (who refuses to think about all the cute shoes she coulda' had)

Cone Easter Basket & A Card

Here are the basket/cones that I'm making as Easter treats my daughter will give her co-workers this week. It's just a little something to brighten their day. As  city workers they never know for certain when they might get a pink slip. DD wasn't crazy about the cone shape, but I told her people get tired of seeing baskets all the time and they would enjoy the change. I know I sure do. You can find the "how to" and a video tute too on  SCS site in the issue #200 of Weekly Inkling, (which I can't find or I'd give ya' da linky).  Some of the others I've made have more work put into them, but this one was the prototype and already had the candy in it.  I'll post pics of the others when all done. Also, here's a card that I made for Easter. The basket image stamp is a Michael's Dollar stamp.  I have a few more to show as the week goes on. Sharon Johnson's challenge Stamp Simply #132 was an EZ PZ one this week. No special colors, shapes, etc., just make something with an Easter theme. I love simple challenges. It means I can do them.

I've been stamping, cooking (I'm on a shortbread kick and made butterscotch walnut shortbread...delicious (recipe from King Arthur Flour Company blog. And eggplant parmesan from here Closet Cooking  and gardening, so it's been a great weekend. Hope your is too.

Hugs & Blessings,

Erica

Last Night

 
Last night legionnaires, Blogger wouldn't let me post. I was most unhappy as I hadn't posted since Monday. And it was gonna be a shorty one too. BLAH...not a good start to my planned weekend. So, here's a card that I made to try to get out of the box of using the same colors all the time. It's SU papers I thought I had to have way back when and the the image stamp is from CTMH Treasure Life set. The sentiment is from a Hero Arts' set I have had 4ever and wouldn't be without because of it neat size which fits anywhere on the card. Gotta have those.
Well, I've been in my garden and fertilized 20 plants for the last time I think, as the short-sale is going along smoothly and I think we'll be gone by the end of May. I shall so sorely miss my beautiful citrus trees, hibiscus and honeysuckle...Ah, but as every legionnaire knows, life goes on and it surely does change.
Get a little stampin done frineds. It soothes the soul
Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

The Easter Project

Here it is....from El of the Tres Abuelas (self-named trio of grandmothers who love to stamp, chat and eat altogether at one time....it ain't always easy let me tell ya'). So, El knew we'd be intimidated if we had to cut out the pieces and put the holes in. So, she did it for us. Everything was so neat and well spaced. Of course, she said it was easy, but it sure didn't look like it. With all of her hard work, these came together fairly quickly and we enjoyed making them.
It is an octogon shaped box and holds quite a bit of goodies. Well, be assured I'm not giving my Easter basket away to nobody.
For my dd's co-workers treats, I've decided to keep it simple and make those treat cones the SSC newsletter of last week showed. That's my plan for the upcoming weekend and I'm sticking to it.
Weird fact for the day....there's no "cent" key on the PC keyboard. Can someone tell me why? It makes no sense to me. GROAN...couldn't resist.

Hugs & Blessings comin' at ya' from Erica

Hardware Saturday

Busy day today...got the grands while mom & dad head to CA to help out other dd move or pack-up to move back to AZ. So many changes going on in lives impacted by the economic downturn or do we say recession now?

BTW, JA is Joann's big box store. I have been using lots of initials since I joined Facbook. They won't let you use more than 420 characters in a comment. Near impossible for me to do. I imagine Twitter is even more strict. Don't plan on joining them.

So, in the interest of putting kids to bed after popcorn and a movie, here's some deets. That's a $ Michael stamp and CTMH ds paper and an EK Successs punch and SU hardware (I keep hoarding this stuff with no idea why), and SU other paper and the Nesties for the frames. The sentiment is from a clear stamp from unknown source as I took it out of its packaging. I'm trying to get some cards going for youngest dd. She says she needs cards with encouraging words since her office staff is down to half what it was and people are having to do 25 to 50% more work.

Oh, and my sweet cat is unofficially one year old. Since she's from the Humane Society, they guessed exact birth date. She is my first cat and is more than I could ever have hoped for. She fits my personality perfectly, gets along with my old dog, does not get in the way when I have company, and actually goes out like a dog everyday in the yard for a few hours in the day. She hasn't once leapt the 6 ft. walls to wander. I'm totally amazed by that. She even has a suitor. Poor thing is de-clawed and I think he's a bit intimidated by her even though she's considerably smaller. Not to worry...mines spayed and he (Steve..go figure) is neutered. I know 'cause I tried to "borrow" him from my neighbor before I got mine, and he politely told me he was his. I don't know why he lets him out if he's declawed. I do believe the two of them have hunted a bird or two together, as there has been an inordinate amount of feathers in a corner twice. Steve politely waits for Starr while reclining on one of my cushioned patio chairs each morning. He's a tabby or calico...not sure of the difference, and it is just too cute to see.
Gotta go....nuf said....hope you are getting in some stamping.
Hugs & Blessings
Erica

You Bless Me

Good morning....yup another 3 AM post. Don't ask questions, just humor me, OK? I know I promised that Easter project, but I decided it should be all about me today. Hah, as if it isn't always.
So, I was at JA's the other day and didn't think I'd find any gotta have its. I don't know who my regional buyer is, but for the last two years, they've had nothing to ooh & ahh about. However, I had a bit of success. I've been looking for a leafy kinda die, but didn't want anything too large and didn't want to pay too much. This little baby leafy die was on sale for 40% off, making it around $9. My kinda price for a die. I have big plans for it. Sooo here's my first endeavor. Not much to explain. The base is textured SU...not quite sure why I haven't been using this more often. Me likey! The other papers are just what I had on hand. Oh,,,I forgot, JA also had a big round 10 oz. container of various colors of buttons for $4.99. I think that was a steal and I'd never seen them before. Snapped those babies up fast.  Since buttons continue to be very much en vouge, I'm sure I'll use them up. A little piece of rick rack from CTMH finished it off. The sentiment is from Stampabilities.

OK, so here's a dumb thought for the day.
Remember when you first learned how to type on a typewriter (not a PC younguns') and you had to "space" two spaces after a period?  I think there's a double space somewhere in this post...old habits die hard. Don't know why that came to mind, but it did :)

Erica, sending your blessings & hugs.