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My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Jul 4, 2009

Shoebox Swap Results

Recently, I hosted a Shoebox Swap by Mail on Splitcoast Stampers. For those who don't know, a normal shoebox swap is when a bunch of people get together to create cards together, but instead of making multiple cards and trading completed projects, you design a card and prep for it. Then you pack paper, ink, stamps, punches, etc. that are needed to complete the card into a shoebox and everyone gets to assemble the projects themselves.

That is a bit harder to do by mail! :D What I had everyone do was design and prep card kits. Since we couldn't mail stamps and such to everyone, the stamping had to be done as well as any special techniques. Then the original was placed in an envelope so I couldn't see it (because I wanted to play along, not just host the swap). Everyone received their card kits and have been assembling their cards, using what was received in the kit and their imaginations. I did allow adding extra stuff or altering what came in the kit if they wanted.

Sara and I took two spots, so we each ended up with twenty cards! It has been so much fun working on these! I finally finished the coloring and am posting my cards as well as the originals here. Except for one photo (which I will note), the original artwork is the card in the center. Thank you girls for a really fun and incredible swap! If I messed up names, please let me know. Ready?

This card is by Mary. maryb3 on SCS. I really like the pink on black. Mary also included little sequin flowers and cute little dots. My butterfly on the right has wire antennae. I really need to practice more with wire.
Here is Diane's card. ppq on SCS. Love these happy colors and those scallop punch flowers. Here is Misti's card. misti.stowell on SCS. I seem to have been a little placement challenged the day I put these two together. This card is great. It makes me think of my grandpa. I sure miss him.This one is by Beth. mycatbillybob on SCS. I got such a kick out of the flamingo "conga line". I had to add some ribbon to the one on the left to have enough for the ribbon frame. For the card on the right, I cut up the conga line for the front and put the large flamingo inside. For those of you wondering, here is a ribbon frame tutorial by waltzingmouse.
Here's the inside.This one is by Jen. ilovebuttons on SCS. She used some kind of cool sparkly chalk-like stuff on her card. I felt bad for the frog, being in a jar and everything, so I named the one on the left Houdini and replaced him in the jar with the birthday wishes!
This one is by Megan. megsberger on SCS. Megan, I loved this card, but it made me crazy trying to figure out what to do with the green square only for Sara to finally tell me you placed it on the back of your card! I laughed so hard at myself! This is the back. ;)This one is by Diane. ldyglfr62 on SCS. These little mice are A. Dor. A. Ble. And I learned the hard way on this card that I am not a good colorer. For the one on the left, I used my classic ink. I like the one on the right using watercolor pencils much better!
This one is by April. aahannah59 on SCS. Super cute and all I added was ribbon.Here is the inside.
These are by Sara. Chicagogirl on SCS. I love these cards! I am a big fan of earth tones. The blue card is the one I messed up placement for the photo. Sara's original is actually the card on the left.
ETA: I just realized I never took a picture of the inside of Sara's butterfly card. Drat!
These cards are mine. The brown one has a shadow box, but instead of filling it, I put a brown rub on flower inside and a lighter flower on the window. It looks shadowed. For the pink card, I stamped different sentiments on each side of the white CS, so people could choose which one they wanted to use. I let Xavier help me with the stamping on a couple of the envelopes and he took it upon himself to continue stamping without me in the room. Luckily, the inkpad was closed. I kept the one he goobered up the most and hopefully no one knew a 3 year old stamped their envelopes before reading it here now. :D

Jun 26, 2009

A Dad and his Boys

A new video on you tube of M with the littles. Click here.

Jun 22, 2009

And One From Xav

Mal went in the bedroom and monkeyed around under the crib during Xav's nap. I made him come out and lay on his "rest" mat in the living room. He instantly fell asleep, but it was too late. Xav was already awake. Xav is evil. He then did everything he could to bug Mal; hitting him in the head with a pinwheel, crawling on the mat, drivng cars into Mal. He was laughing like this: ha ha hee hee ho ho hoo hoo. It was freaking hysterical. He had me laughing so much I snorted. Which, btw, is really not very ladylike.

Some More Mal Tales

Mal has been watching Moe's Big Exit, the Veggie Tales version of Moses freeing the Israelites. You know how Moses throws down the staff and it becomes a snake? Mal tossed Sheriff Woody from Toy Story at my feet and said, "Let my people go". Cracked. Me. UP!

When Lora was visiting, she gave Mal a gorilla figure. The other night after getting the boys ready for bed, I took out the diapers and when I came back in their room, Mal was slathering the gorilla's butt with diaper rash cream.

I'm learning to grab the camera before the washcloth. I caught Mal trying to make chocolate milk. He had his cup about half full of Quik! Xavier was licking his fingers and running them through the powder on the table and licking them.

Mal has been watching the Veggie Tales video "Abe and the Amazing Promise" a lot lately. In it they are making a documentary video of Abe's life. So on the set, they have a nurse and every time they talk about patience she appears and they say, "not patients, PATIENCE!" Mal misunderstood and everywhere we went yesterday he was saying, "not patients, HAITIANS!".

This one will only make sense to Phineus and Ferb fans.
Daddy: That's a really tall (Lego) tower.
Mal: That's not a tower. It's a robot chargerator...inator.

Me: Say French
Mal: French
Me: Say fries
Mal: fries
Me: Say French fries
Mal: ench fries

Me: Mal, we have to get daddy a present for father's day. What do you think he would like?
Mal: (jumping excitedly) A red one!
Me: A red what?
Mal: A red present!
Thanks for the help Mal.

Jun 19, 2009

Jun 18, 2009

Mal Graduates from Playschool

Mal had a nice party for graduation and Xavier and I were invited.
There was circle time with songs (with Miss Jessica and Miss Barbel - I do not know how to put the two dots over the A) and some play time.
There were snacks. I am so glad I didn't make cake balls. I think we had enough cakes. :D Instead, we dipped pretzels in chocolate and the boys put the sprinkles on them. There were a TON of naked pretzels on plates at the end of the party!There were awards (books inside his portfolio). Hi Miss Fredda!He met his new teacher, Miss Tracy.

Preschool, here we come!