New Year - New Look!

2010 has brought changes in my life, so I decided that my blog needed a change too! Let me know what you think of the new look!

Thanks for stopping by!

Beautiful Birthday wishes

Look at this Beautiful birthday card made by Renee Van Stralen.

clipped from reneevs.blogspot.com

January already!!!!!

Oh my GOSH, can it be January already? I took a look at my last post and it said July!!! Where did the time go?

Well alot has been going on here at the Gilbert residence during the last 6 months. My husband has been laid off since the end of July, construction has taken a big hit here in the midwest. I have been busy working 30 hours a week with my special ed students and am exhausted when I get home. Almost every weekend we are off somewhere to watch our daughter play division I hockey for the 'University of North Dakota - Fighting Sioux' which we LOVE doing! I thought I would add this picture of her 'crashing the net', nice save by the goalie!

Someday I will get the time and energy back to Stamp again!!! I think about it all the time but never seem to find the time to sit down and just do it. Maybe later this afternoon since I am off from work, but first, I need to get my hair cut!

Challenge - Mojo Monday

It's been awhile since I have been able to participate in any challenges, not only because I haven't had the time but somewhere along the line, I lost my mojo. So I got to thinking, what better way to try and get my mojo back than to do this week's Mojo Monday Sketch challenge.

It may be hard to tell in this picture, but I used two different designer papers. I think it looks better in real life! Oh well, it's a start!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used: Stamps~ Pun Fun.

Ink~ Basic Black, Going Gray, Basic Gray, Rose Red, Ballet Blue.

Paper~ Almost Amethyst, Whisper White, Watercolor paper, Tea Party DSP.

Accessories~ Flower brads, Rhinestone brads, Blender Pen, Eyelet border punch, Paper Piercer, Marvy Scallop & Circle Punch.

Arrrrrr........

Ok, so I thought I would give my blog a facelift since it's been awhile since I have posted anything. Well..... to make a long story short, I somehow lost some of my favorite blog sites! If you noticed that yours is missing from my blog roll, I apologize, I am trying to find which ones are missing and add them back as soon as I can. That's what I get for thinking I can "Make a few changes"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Update

Hi everyone! I'm sorry for being sooo quite. I know you've heard that before haven't you? Here's what I've been up to:
Last fall I went back to work as a special ed para - what's that you ask? Well I am lucky, I get to work with children with special needs- these kids are so special, they make me smile everyday!!!!
Going back to work as proved to take alot of the sparetime I used to have for stamping! I've been trying to adjust my time but just haven't been able to make it work as much as I would like.
My daughter Megan graduated from high school in June: her senior year was filled with many activities that took up alot of time planning and preparing for (it was a fun time for the both of us)! Oh and we can't forget all the college preparations! Megan is attending the University of North Dakota (she actually started this summer) where she is planning on earning a degree in Physical Therapy, and where she is also playing on their women's hockey team this fall! GO Sioux!!!

My eldest son Matt has been trying to decide on what it is he wants to do when he grows up, I think he has finally made a decision to join the 'Navy'. That was a hard thing for me to hear, but I think it will be a good decision for him.

My youngest son Nick, will be a Junior in high school this fall. Where does the time go? I can't believe how fast they grow up!
I feel like a empty nester half the time with Megan gone at school for the summer, Matt's busy with his thing and Nick, well he is loving summer vacation!
Maybe now I will finally get back some time for stamping and blogging! But first I just need to get my mojo back!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lucky Duck

Recently I was able to attend the Stampin' Up! regional that was held here in Minneapolis. I met with my friend and downline Colleen who traveled here from Virginia, along with Colleen's friend Andrea (hi Andrea!) and Pam, one of Colleen's downline, who traveled from southern Minnesota. We had a wonderful time stamping and getting caught up with each other along with learning new stamping techniques!

This is the swap that I made for the regional, I was only able to make 25 but I was able to receive 25 other great ideas in exchange! I'm not sure if the picture shows that I paper pierced around the wing of the duck, along with the bow around his neck.

Can you imagine the energy 500 Stampin' Up! demonstrators can generate! I left with so many ideas I hope I can get the chance to re-create some of them soon!

Supplies Used: Stamps~ Wagon full of Fun.

Paper~ So Saffron, Bliss Blue, Certainly Celery, Whipser White, Delicate Dots DSP (SAB), Watercolor paper.

Ink~ Black Staz-on, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Bliss Blue, Only Orange, Pumpkin Pie.

Accessories~ Blender Pen, Punches: Large Oval, Key tag, Window, 1" circle, Scallop, Blue Double Stitched ribbon, silver brads, cutter kit, craft scissors, dimentionals.