Pizza Boxes

Splitcoast Stampers had a tutorial on making a mini pizza box. These were so fun and easy to make. Again, I used retired paper. I have to get rid of that stuff! I know we have a new catalog and new colors and paper, but I have to use up some of the old to make room for the new. Actually, the truth is, the summer has been busy with kids for me and I haven't gotten to do a lot of stamping. I actually moved my craft room out of one room (which became Zaden's) and into another. So, my supplies were in piles and boxes for awhile. It is coming together and that is great. I even had a stamping event in the new "Rubber Room". It is a combo toy and craft room. I'll have to get some pictures once I get a few more details taken care of. I also have some cards to post that are new and I promise to get them out to you. :)

Talk to you soon,
Amy

A little Thank You

These post it note holders are sure easy to make. I used an acrylic 5 x 7 frame and cut designer paper to fit. I created a decorative strip for the bottom and added a ribbon. I gave these as gifts to the girls in my stamp club. They seemed to like them.

After some time has gone by though I realized that these standing up the tall way is not such a good design. The sticky note pad falls off - not the back page I stuck down but it seperates from itself. So, the next batch needs to lie down, not stand up. It will just get better and better!

Talk to you soon,
Amy

All in Our Family

Isn't this a cool piece of art? It was a birthday gift from Jenn. She stamped our family with the "All in the Family" set, then she masked us and then finally printed our name. So cool huh? She rocks. I'd like to say I taught her all she knows but I haven't. :)

Our family life is crazy this summer. I have spent weeks now, 10 exactly, doing nothing but caring for Zaden and Zoe. Mostly Zaden. These infants now days sure are needy. (hee hee) But I have sure loved it. He is starting to smile and grin more and more and the coos are more frequent too. Zoe is adjusting to him and learning to be gentle. The kids and I will be heading to Colorado this week to visit my family there. I'm not sure I'm prepared to travel with the two of them. But, I'm sure it will be fine. Thank goodness we have a direct flight!

Talk to you soon,
Amy

A post with a card!

I know these colors are now the "out" colors, actually from 2 catalogs ago, but I do like this card. I wanted to show off the sizzlet I used with the Bigshot to make the flowers and bird image. The only stamping is the "friendship" sentiment. A very easy card. I used it to give a "thank you" to my friend Jennifer. She does so much for me. She hosted a baby shower, she brought a meal, she calls me every day, she babysits my kids and really loves them and wants them to grow up to love God. She cares about my marriage and my heart. She is a great friend.

Baby Zaden

I haven't been posting. I used to be so good. But I wanted to share what has been going on the last few weeks....

Zaden was born May 21st at 11:15 a.m.

He is already 3 weeks old today! He is perfect and beautiful and such a calm, peaceful baby. It is wonderful.

Zoe thinks his is pretty neat. She loves to hold him and touch him. She left for a week to go to her gramma's house and the first thing she asked me when I talked to her on the phone was, "How is Zaden doing?" Isn't that sweet?

My mom has been here three weeks and has been a wonderful help. I can't believe she is going to leave me but I guess I'll be okay. She'll be back. And when my mom-in-love brings Zoe home she is going to stay 2 weeks so that will be awesome. I am truly blessed.

Well it is summer and I will try to post more. No promises. Talk to you soon,

Amy

A Saturday Funny

Not stamping Related...Just Personal Stuff

Okay, time for a new Ellingson Journal, May 2009 edition. I know you have all been waiting and waiting for this!

So who's first?

Brett: Work is good. He learned Adobe Acrobat this month and so now has a new class to teach under his belt. He is now working on PhotoShop and excited about it. He'll teach those classes in early June.

Amy: Well, I am 36 weeks pregnant now, 8 1/2 months. Monday my doctor was concerned that I was getting Toxemia, like I did when I had Zoe. My blook pressure had gone up and I had some other symptoms. So, she put me on modified bed rest, meaning I can go to work but I have to sit and do nothing all evening. By Thursday, all my sitting and Brett's serving had paid off and my BP was down. I will go to the doctor Monday again and Thursday but hopefully I won't have to have the baby next week. I plan to work until May 22nd. I have been trying to get as much done in my classroom for my sub that I can. Plus, all the end of year grading, paperwork and classroom cleaning. it is a bit overwhelming but I'll get done what I get done, right? My doctor thinks we'll probably go on the 27th or 28th to have him.

Baby: He is about 6 pounds 6 oz and has about 2 weeks to go. He was head down and is now head up. He likes to make mom sick still but he is quiet. :) He is still nameless. He arrival is highly anticipated. My mom will be here Saturday the 23rd and will stay for 3 weeks. Isn't that awesome? His other gramma will be here not long after he is born!

Zoe: Early this month she had all of her dental work done. She had IV sedation and now has 4 crowns and lots of fillings. Her teeth are beautiful and the dentist did an amazing job. On the 27th she is scheduled to have her brain MRI. (We are trying to do it early considering my doctor thinks we may be having little brother that day). The doctors seem to think it is mild cerebral palsy. Now, this really freaked me out at first. I pictured wheel chairs and major problems. But, CP is ANY muscular problem caused by a brain injury. Zoe has some problems with the muscles on her left side. Most people will NEVER notice. The main thing are some problems she has with running and jumping. This concerns me when I think of elementary school. But, we are going to see a physical therapist and take their advice. The developmental specialist we know said that many kids with mild CP learn to completely overcome it and work around it. It can't be cured but the brain can learn to work around the problem. She is having her first dance recital June 5th and is excited. Of course you'll see pictures of that great event very soon! Both grammas will get to see her dance and then she is going to go to Illinois for a week with Gramma Ellingson. When they come back Pat will stay for 2 weeks herself to help us out here with Zoe and the boy that Zoe calls "My baby"

So, that is our update. I know, I always am too wordy but I guess if you are still reading you hung in there. I wish I had a prize for you. :)

I'm sure you'll here an update from us soon!

Love to you all,
Amy, Brett, Zoe and baby boy

My Own Decor Elements

I showed you in my last post (that was quite awhile ago) a picture of my friend's bedroom with Decor Elements. Well, I'd been planning to work on my own bedroom for awhile and over Spring Break finally got to work. Last summer I put up a scripture on my wall using plain black vinyl and a Cricut. It turned out well.

But, when the new Decor Elements Catalog came out I really wanted to add the large tree, Thoughts and Prayers, to the scripture. I wasn't totally sure it would work but I had to try it. So here is what I did.

First, the tree comes in two large pieces. On the pieces there are numbered segments. I cute the segments out and laid them the way they should go. There are printed instructions that come in with the tree that show you how to arrange the tree. The next step was to put up the tree on the wall (not attach it) but I used straight pins to put it where I thought it should go, to make sure it looked centered on the wall and over my saying. This was the part I worried about since my saying was there first. Here come the horrible part. (okay, I'm being a little dramatic). I had to peel the backing off of each individual section and rub it to the wall. On smaller Decor Elements pieces this is not really a problem at all. On these bigger segments I did find it difficult and would have done better with help. As it was, I was 7 months pregnant, standing on my bed and sweating and grunting to keep my balance. It was a longer process than it needed to be I think. I'm sure Molly, my dog, found it very amusing but I did get a little exasperated a couple of times. So, if you attempt this tree, recruit a helper and you'll be fine! This is the final product and I think it turned out well. It is hard to get a good picture of our bedroom, I can't back up far enough because of the dresser, but it seemed centered. I was happy with the overall turnout.

What do you think? I'd love some feedback.

Talk to you soon,

Amy