It's Monday and Clean Up Begins

First let me say thanks for all your emails, comments, thoughts and prayers. It really means so much to me and is part of what is getting me through each day. If I don't respond to you personally please know that I really do appreciate you and can feel your support and for that I am grateful.

The construction fire restoration general manager came yesterday and well let's just say we have a big task ahead of us (or should I say they do). They will be doing everything except we have to determine our complete losses and that is going to be a task, let me tell you. When the contents adjuster sent me the file to put our losses on it was a 62 page Excel spreadsheet and I was thinking, "why so big?" I think now I know why. It's gonna be all of that. It's bad enough the actual fire damage, but the smoke damage we're finding is just as bad if not worse. Then it becomes a matter if it can be put back to it's original condition.

I could go on and on (and you all know I'm good at that right? just by the title of my blog) but right now we are looking at probably a 4 month displacement. I love summer and hate that it goes so fast and don't want to wish it away, but............. I know we will get through, but knowing doesn't always make it easier. We have an awesome God and I know He will get us through. I just told my dad this morning I always thought it would be neat to go away for the summer, but really I had in mind a little farther than Bay Port. LOL For those of you that don't know Bay Port is only about 6 miles from where we live.

Have a great day everyone. I'm off to sift through the rubble and please feel free to leave your comments or questions. Oh and I promise I'll get back to some stamping inspiration soon. I'm going to need that.

Hugs!
Renee

WOW! What a week!

On Tueday morning around 1:00 am we awoke to our house on fire. An electrical short in the basement. Smoke everywhere! It was aweful, but all 4 of us got out safely as did all 3 pets. Praise be to God!

There is so much to share, but most will have to wait until later. We cannot live in our home and it will probably be at least a month until it will be semi live able. We are staying at my folks and our girls are staying with my sister along with our pets. All will be ok, I just know it. God is working so much out for us. We can see His hand in so many little things right now, it just amazes us. SU has called and has offered to replace my starter kit. (my upline had contacted them) Yeah! I can keep doing my business. My upline called and she is having me place a workshop order on her. Yeah again! You probably can all imagine how devastated I was over my stamp room having so much damage. Nothing burned in there, but major, major smoke damage and we don't know what is salvageable if anything. You should see my stamp cases. They are just black, but good news again. My 3 free sets I'd earned during SAB came yesterday so I have 3 non smokey sets to use. Yeah yet again!

I have my down moments, but then I am touched so much by the kindness of others. I'm the type that likes to be the giver and receiving has never come easy to me, but God is teaching me otherwise right now.

If you need to contact me you can email me at my regular email address..... ibecakes@airadvantage.net or post here. Keeping in touch through the computer is helping me to have some normalcy.

Thanks for all your prayers,
Hugs!
Renee

Gift Card Tutorial-- of sorts!

I had a few questions about the gift card and thought I share a little more info.

The paper I used was Apricot Appeal and the DSP is Good Morning Sunshine. The other side of this sheet has cute little birdies. I put the sizes on the pic of what I used and the score lines I wrote in pencil on the lines. Please refer back to my last post for the finished project. If you have any more questions please let me know. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

Renee

A Gift for Who?

I received a call yesterday from someone who needed a gift certificate and needed it quick. I put this together in no time. Very simple, but I think it makes a nice presentation. What do you think? Now you're all wondering who it's for right? That's why I turned the card over silly! That's all for today. I'm re-organizing my stamp room. Yes, once again. Why is it just never quite right? Oh I know, because I make it such a mess. LOL

Have a great day!

Renee

Argggg!! Computer Problems

Sorry about not uploading anything for the last couple of days. I was having a driver problem with my card reader/USB port, but I'm proud to say I fixed it myself and it didn't cost me anything. Yeah!

I wanted to share with you what I received in the mail last week. My SU upline Linda who actually lives in California near where I was born sent me this great gift. I had entered a promotion she had for those of us under her in SU and this was the prize. How exciting! She also sent this cute card as well. You can't tell from the photo, but the eggs, and the ducks feet and bill have Crystal Effects on them. It's really a cute card. Thanks so much Linda. You're a sweetheart.

I can't wait to make some pages using this kit. Look for a class coming as well in May using SU's great Simply Scrappin' Kits.

Blessings,

Renee

On the Good Friday

Here are a few more thank you cards I created this week. On this Good Friday I am thankful that Jesus did what He did for me. It is truly amazing and it was not only for me, but for all mankind. Growing up I remember being told in Sunday School that even if I had been the only one He would have still done it. How awesome is that? Have a blessed Easter and remember to thank Him for what He did.

Blessings,

Renee

Happy Birthday to My Brookie!

I hope my blog readers will forgive me today and let me be a little self indulgent today. Today is the 18th Birthday of our youngest daughter Brooke. As you know from previous posts, birthdays are important to me and my children are no exception. Brooke has grown into such a fine young women who amazes me everyday. Some amazement's are better than others. *wink*, but truly she is amazing. Put it this way, I've heard people say Brooke your enthusiasm for life amazes me. I remember her 2 grade teacher telling me what enthusiasm she had in school. She looks at so much as an adventure. What a girl! Mommy and Daddy are so very proud of you and know you'll go far with your dreams.

I wanted to share a couple of pictures of her and will also share her special card I made for her as well.

Here is Brooke Romain Ondrajka on her birth day along with big sissy Lindsay. Lindsay was so excited to get to the hospital to see her and wouldn't let Michele rest until she brought her. Wish she was so anxious to see her sister now. *grin*

This is one of my favorite pictures of her. It truly shows her personality (well at least most days) LOL

Here is my little Brooker Teasy Weasy Bear (her family nickname and Brooker T for short) at 3 months. Hope she doesn't kill me for sharing all this. That smile tells it all why we called her Teasy Weasy. Even now she loves to tease.

And here she is today. What a lovely young woman she has become. I know I'm a little prejudice, but I told you at the beginning what kind of post this was going to be. *wink*

And last, but not least here is the card I made for her. Yes, that is using the #2 Sizzix Scallop Circle die. I'll be showing how to make this at my upcoming Big Shot class. Be watching for details soon.

Ok, I guess that's it for today. Thanks for indulging me a little

Hugs!

Renee

Raspberry Tart DSP Meets Big Shot Leftovers

Does the title of this sound a little weird? Well I think that some of my best cards I've ever created come from little leftover pieces that I have laying on my workspace. For me it's fun to use up those little pieces I can't throw away and so yesterday as I was cleaning up a bit I decided to use up some of those. It used to be just little things I stamped and hadn't used or it was little punched pieces, but now the Big Shot has opened up another door for such pieces. I need to send out some thank you cards for birthday presents I received and so I thought I'd turn them into thank yous, but now I'm not sure I want to part with them. *grin*

Have a wonderful day and I'll have more leftovers for you later this week.

Renee

A Secret Sis Gift

Last November when my sisters and I visited the Ikea store I purchased these 5 x 7 wooden photo frames. I didn't know what I'd do with them, but was sure I'd think of something. Well the time came and this is what I came up with. I covered the frame using the new Walk in the Park DSP that just debuted in the Occasions Mini Catalog. The picture was a background on an email I had received and since my secret sis likes wolves, I thought why not print it and put it in this frame. My new little HP photo printer that I got for myself for my birthday is a great little printer and has come it handy for such projects. Yes, I ordered it myself for my birthday. Why not get what you really want. Right? The Bible verse is from (the Bible obviously), but is from the long ago retired set Say It With Scriptures. I would love to know your comments on this one. Hope my secret sis likes it.

Blessings,

Renee

How about a Kiwi Kiss?

While doing some blog surfing on Sunday evening I came across a couple of neat ideas by Jan Tink and just had to give them a try. You will find the circle card idea HERE and then the idea for making the scallop edge around the punched greeting HERE. Jan has a great tutorial to show you how so I won't even try and duplicate it.

Circle Card Supplies Used: Sizzix Scallop Circles, 1 3/4" circle punch, large oval punch, Fusion Flowers and Corduroy Baja Breeze Buttons, Oval All Stamp set, Not Quite Navy Ink, Scallop Edge Punch

Thank You Card Supplies Used: Kiwi Kiss Ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Flight of the Butterfly stamp set, Oval All stamp set, Kiwi Kiss Ink, Crimper

Have a great day!

Renee

Matchbox Cuties

Here is my latest SU Sizzix Die. This die is exclusive to SU and it makes the cutest little boxes and tags you ever done seen.

See I told you they were cute. I'm thinking these little boxes may become an addiction here. The box will hold 4 Hershey Nuggets, 6 Dove Eggs, a couple of chap sticks, pair of earrings. You get the idea.

Paper used: Parisian Breeze (page 158), Raspberry Tart (page 160)

Stamp Set: Oval All (Occasions Mini Catalog)

Ribbon: Kiwi Kiss (page 178), Organza (page 179)

Enjoy!

Renee

I'll Take Manhattan

Flower Embossing Folder that is! This is another one of my new items I received on Thursday. Isn't it gorgeous? I must confess though that this card is a total CASE from my friend Patty Bennett. Exactly! Nothing changed on this one at all. I'm sure Patty won't mind though. She is so sweet always so willing to share. I wish though that she'd share some of that warm sunshine she gets in California with us here in Michigan. *wink*

This card took me less than 5 minutes to put together start to finish. Really that simple, but oh so elegant. Come to my Big Shot class and I'll show you how. Look for details on that class coming soon.

Have a wonderful Sunday and I'll see you here tomorrow.

Renee

Soft Summer

Good Morning! Just another quick card this morning with some of my new goodies. Now this card isn't exactly perfect by any means, but I think it will do. I didn't get my two step stamp lined up the best, but it was my first try. I didn't even stamp on scratch paper first. And my embossed background didn't come out the way I wanted it to, but like I said, I think it will do. I used my new Rolodex sizzix die. This die is so cool. I actually stamped and then die cut it out. How you ask? This die is clear on top. Really neat, so look for more ideas coming soon with this puppy. Used my new scallop oval punch as well. I love how it is the perfect layer for the large oval.

Well that's all of today. I have a cake to get decorated and then choir practice this afternoon. Have a wonderful Saturday.

Renee

New Goodies

I got my new Occasions Mini Catalog goodies yesterday and had to make a card quick this morning before I head out again. Yes again! My sister Chele and I went to the health fair this morning to have blood work done. Why on a day like a health fair can they do it for $10, but any other time you have to have a doctor's order and be charged hundreds of dollars. I find that confusing. Anyway that has nothing to do with stamping and I just thought I'd throw that in there free of charge. *grin*

I used two new stamps sets here. Forest Friends and Oval All. Punched the oval with the large oval punch and then the scallop layer with the new Scallop Oval Punch that made it's debut in the Occasions Mini Catalog as well. I used the SU Texturz Plate for the background and added some Baja Breeze ribbon. Very simple, but I think adorable. Love that little Bambi.

Now I'm off to meet my other sister Carin in Midland to give her, her most recent SU purchase. Take care and have a great Friday.

Renee

Same Basket, Different Take

Well what do you think? Pretty clever eh? When I was trying to fill this basket with some sort of candy (really didn't like what I did yesterday, but it was what I had) I had one of these little test tubes with jelly beans in it laying on my desk so I tried laying that in the basket. Nay, that didn't look good and then it hit me. Why not make them stand up like the one I did HERE! Now I've got me a cute little 6 pack of candy test tubes. Pretty pleased with myself. Almost as much as my post the other day when I showed you my neighbor's picture. NOT!! I thought that was a good one and surely I would have gotten more comments, but such was not the case. I still thought it was pretty funny. So there!! LOL

Hugs!

Renee

Lovin' My Big Shot

It's taken me all day, but I've finally getting my post done. I just love using my Big Shot and find myself reaching for it every time I want to do a project. This little basket was made by putting 2 of the Box #2 dies together. I had this idea and hadn't gotten around to making it yet when I saw the same idea on someone else'ss blog. Just goes to show that maybe there really aren't any original ideas. *grin* Instead of folding the box tops down I left them standing up and hooked them together using sticky strip. I used Certainly Celery Textured cardstock and Urban Garden DSP. The flower is from the 5th Avenue Floral set and is attached to a Not Quite Navy punched Scallop Circle. To top it off I used a piece of Baja Breeze ribbon tied on the top and of course added some mini M & M packets.

Blessings,

Renee