♫ So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good night... ♫

 

Isn't she just too cute?? :)

Hi, everyone! Hope the first few days of the New Year have been treating you well! :)

It's getting late and I'm dragging, so I guess I'll just get right to it... I'm taking a blog break.  You're shocked, right? I mean, what, the general decrease in posts in 2011, and increasing absences towards the end of the year weren't an indication of things to come?? I know, I know, it's been pretty obvious. :P

Baaaaasically, I haven't been feeling well this year, and it's taken a toll on me physically and creatively.  I'm just spent.  So, I figured it's time to say bye for now, and hope that once things return to "normal," I'll be back in full force here on the blog-o. 

Until then...

You're An All Star

Hi, everyone! :) Hope you're having a stellar Monday! Just wanted to pop in and share a card I created with the new My Guy set from Paper Smooches.  The images in the set naturally lend themselves to masculine cards, but I thought it'd be fun to switch it up and make something girlie. :)

And for giggles, here are a few pics of my girlie on Halloween dressed as her all-time favorite Disney princess... Snow White! :)

 
Have a great one!

Supplies:
Stamps - My Guy (Paper Smooches)
Ink - Versamark, Fresh Ink (Gray)
Paper - Lemon Tart, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores, Spring Rain, Stamper's Select White
Miscellaneous - Clear Embossing Powder, Twine (Paper Smooches), Raspberry Fizz Grosgrain, Note Die Cut

Halloween...

Just wanted to pop in and share some of the photos of Lindsay on Halloween through the years... :)

Skunk

 60's Girl

70's Girl

80's Girl

Panda

LOL, don't worry... Our pup didn't really eat Lindsay! Haha

Fun News...

Hi everyone! I'm ba-ack! :) Just wanted to pop in and share some news with you... Jessica Knutsen asked me to join her team and be a Trendsetter for There She Goes Clear Stamps! Eeek! I am SO excited to be a part of such an *amazing* group of stampers... Seriously, their coloring skills are unbelievable. LOL, makes you wonder what in the world I'm doin' here, right??? :) I am looking forward to what the next 6 months will bring, and can't even begin to say thank you enough to Jessica for giving me this opportunity.

Instructions:

• Create A2 white card base.
• Cut 4" x 5 1/4" patterned paper piece and adhere to card base.
• Stamp flower image 6 times on white CS, color with Copics and cut out.
• Cut 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of white CS, score at 1/4" and 2 1/4", then adhere to card base.
• Stamp sentiment in brown ink and adhere rhinestones.
• Layer flowers with pop dots, curl edges and adhere to card base before adding clear rhinestone to flower centers.

Supplies:
Stamps - Flowers of Happiness
Ink - Memento Black, Copics, Dark Chocolate
Paper - Stamper's Select White, Reminisce "Happy"
Miscellaneous - Clear Rhinestones

Embrace Happiness

Good morning! I went to bed about 3 hours earlier than usual, and man oh man I am *more* tired today than when I don't get as much sleep... LOL, how does that happen?

Sorry about the washed out photo, we've had a break in the clouds and the sun is super bright today! :)

Okay, personal life yada yada to follow, so if you don't want to read it, consider yourself warned! LOL :) We had a follow-up appointment yesterday with a Neurologist to try to figure out what's going on with our almost 5 year old daughter. While she is bright, sweet, hilarious, goofy, and affectionate, she is also hyper, easily distracted, impulsive, and can be uncooperative (esp. if you ask her to do something she doesn't find interesting). She has an IEP and receives services through the school system, and our annual review is coming up next week. I'm kind of nervous about it because I feel like they might try to release her from services (all of her goals have been marked as "achieved" except for two), and when we had an eligibility meeting in January to determine if she qualified for full-day school, they went around the table and told me how wonderfully she's doing in school and that she doesn't qualify for the extended day. At that time, the school psychologist was also in attendance and told me that Lindsay does not have Autism (which is why she was initially entered into the program -- she was labeled at-risk and had a speech delay). Okay, fine, but what *IS* going on then?? Is it normal for a child to act one way at school, but then in another setting, be the total opposite? Something just seems *off*. I just don't understand how she can be such a different child -- cooperative at school, but totally uncooperative at Sunday School. It's frustrating for us because we have no idea what's going on or really how to fix it or even suggestions to make it better. So, back over the Neurologist we went. His determination? Sleep deprivation... (She sleeps for 11 hours a night, but is SO restless during her sleep that she really doesn't wake up feeling rested... She always looks exhausted.) But here's the kicker... He's thinking it's sleep deprivation AND one of the following: ADHD, Aspergers or Bipolor Disorder. LOL, how's that for options?? I can honestly say that bipolar disorder was *not* something that ever popped into my head. I guess it should have considering my SIL and my husband's aunt are both severely affected. At least we now have a starting point, I suppose.

Hope you have a fabulous day, friends!

Instructions:

• Create A2 card base using pink CS.
• Stamp dot images in Versmark ink and heat set with gray embossing powder.
• Round all corners and outline card with white dashes.
• Color circle dot centers with gel pen and adhere green rhinestones.
• Stamp sentiment in white ink.

Supplies:
Stamps - Dot Spot, Mega Mixed Messages
Ink - Versamark, Fresh Snow
Paper - Raspberry Fizz
Miscellaneous - Gray Zing Embossing Powder, White Gel Pen, My Mind's Eye Lush Bling, Corner Chomp

2S4Y46 - Hope Your Day Is Fabulous

Hi everyone! Hope you had a great weekend! :) We're just maxin' and relaxin' here at the Pulvirenti household today.

I have some fun news to share today! I was invited to join the 2 Sketches 4 You design team! :) I am *so excited* to be a part of their team, and am really looking forward to working with everyone. Thank you so much to Laura and Kazan for this fabulous opportunity!! :)

This card was created for today's 2 Sketches 4 You #46 Challenge... Our sponsor this week is InStyle Stamps, and I used the Butterfly digital image on today's card. Want to play along with us? You have until Saturday, February 2oth at Midnight MDT to enter for your chance to win some awesome goodies. Head on over to the 2 Sketches 4 You blog for all the deets!

Instructions:

• Create A2 card base using gray CS.
• Stamp 3 5/8" x 4 7/8" light gray CS with background image in dark gray ink, then layer onto 3 3/4" x 5" piece of pink CS.
• Add green ribbon to gray and pink layers, then adhere to card base with pop dots.
• Stamp sentiment in gray ink on white strip of CS, then adhere to card base with pop dots.
• Print out two butterfly images (one large, one small), color with Copics, add highlights with white gel pen, cut them out, then add Crystal Effects to the wings.
• Once dry, adhere to card base with pop dots.

Supplies:
Stamps - Butterfly (InStyle Stamps), Signature Greetings, Background Basics: Retro
Ink - Smokey Shadow, Copics
Paper - Soft Stone, Raspberry Fizz, Smokey Shadow, Stamper's Select White
Miscellaneous - Crystal Effects, Ripe Avocado Grosgrain Ribbon

Hey hey it's my birthday... Merry Christmas!

Hi everyone! We're barely 1 hour into Christmas day here on the east coast, and I'm *finally* done with everything I need to do. Woohoooooooooo! LOL, nothing like cutting it close, eh? :) I just wanted to pop in and wish you all a blessed and wonderful Christmas day before I head off to bed.

Christmas day is one of my favorites... Not only because it's my birthday, which makes it uber special (hehe), but I get to share it with someone extraordinary. I won't lie, it was h.a.r.d. being a kid and having my birthday on this day... No parties on my actual birthday... People (aside from family) generally forgot I even had a birthday... And the ever popular "Happy merry birthday Christmas" combined gift I'd get from friends. LOL Well, things change and I've grown since then, and I've come to realize it's a great day indeed. *smiles*

Anyhoo... Enjoy your day and always remember, the best *gift* is free... :)

Love you guys!
Heather

Hello & Fun News!

Hi everyone! :)

This is just a quick card I made using stamps, scortape and glitter! I've really been enamored with light pink, hot pink and gray this year. Wouldn't you know it, I was at Marshall's a couple months back and found *the* perfect Christmas dress for my daughter... It was a silvery gray color on the base, with embroidered pink/hot pink flowers and gray embroidered stems. It was so pretty! I knew that was the dress I wanted this year, but alas, it wasn't meant to be... They only had 1 in the entire girls section, and it was a size 2T. LOL, not going to work for my 4 1/2 year old! I searched high and low at area stores and a million online vendors, but no luck. I went back to Marshall's, hoping they still had the smaller size, I didn't know how I was going to make it fit, but I was going to find a way... It was gone! Ha! As of today, she has no Christmas dress, and may just end up hanging out in her pj's all day. LOL

My fun news? I'm a new member of the Jacksonbelle DT! I am super excited to be a part of this group, and even get a chance to work with some familiar faces. YAY!

Have a great one! :)

Supplies:
Stamps - Background Basics: Retro, Handwritten Notes
Ink - Smokey Shadow, Fresh Snow
Paper - Sweet Blush, Smokey Shadow
Miscellaneous - Hot Pink Satin Ribbon, Art Glitter Hot Kiss Transparent Glitter, Scortape

Best One Yet...

Welcome, welcome, welcome! Hope your day has been a great one! It's been kind of gloomy and chilly here today, and we might even get some flurries. Woot! LOL, well, until I have to get out and walk in it... Flip-flops and flurries aren't always friends. *wink*

Any big plans for the weekend? My grandparents are boarding the train tonight in Michigan to come down here for a month! It's been a year since we've seen them, so we're all super excited to get to spend some time with them. It's so cute watching my 4 year old with them! At first she starts out on the shy side, but within about ohhhhhh 20 minutes, she's back to her normal ham-like self! :)

LOL, I can't decide if this card is too busy or not, but I kind of like it. It's slightly smaller than an A2 card (approx. 3 3/4" x 5"), and the bermuda bay portion of the card is a little flap that's attached to the back side of the card. (The 3 3/4" x 11" piece of bermuda bay is scored at 4 7/8" and 10", and then folded on the score lines -- like a matchbook almost.)

Here's to hoping that this (upcoming) year is your best one yet!

Supplies:
Stamps - Background Basics: Retro, Background Basics: Diamonds, Signature Greetings, Turning a New Leaf
Ink - Kiwi Kiss, Raspberry Fizz, Versamark, True Black
Paper - Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Miscellaneous - Basic Grey Notch & Die Tool, Black Gel Pen

Happy Thanksgiving

Hi everyone! Hope you're having a great day! :)

We've wrapped up our Thanksgiving dinner, and are just relaxing... Just wanted to pop in and say hi!

We have so many things to be thankful for every day, but one in particular is this spunky 4 1/2 year old. Almost two years ago we were told that there was a possibility she might be Autistic, or at least fall on the spectrum somewhere. That was a hard day. As a parent, I think you can't help but have hopes and dreams for your child and their future, so when you hear that they might have a neurological disorder that will forever shape who they are, those dreams go right out the window (and new ones take their place). I just keep trusting in the Lord and doing my part, and I know that everything's going to be okay. Lindsay is perfect the way He made her, and I can't imagine my life, my family, without her. All things work for good for those who love the Lord. Romans 8:28

We just had our parent/teacher conference this past week, and Lindsay's doing amazing in pre-k. The very same girl who had speech/communication delays is a non-stop talker who's met all of her goals on her IEP, and is excelling in language arts. I always said she was really bright (LOL, but what mom doesn't think their kiddo is a superstar?!), and it was so awesome to get validation by her teacher and be told that she should be in GT classes. I am just so thankful for early intervention, and am amazed by her progress in the past couple years. WTG, Linds!!

2S4Y39 - Thank You

Hi everyone! Hope your week has been going well... :) This card was created using the most recent 2 Sketches 4 You sketch. I started with a 3 1/2 x 6" size card base in Plum Pudding, then stamped it with polka dots in Versamark ink.

I also stamped the Lavender Moon piece with Versamark ink, though this time using one of the images from Background Basics: Retro. The "ornament" I created was one of the images from Giga Guide Lines. It's a little hard to tell, but I stamped the image three times, then cut them out and adhered them together (kind of like a triangle) to make it more 3D. Easy peasy! :)

Have a great one! :)

Supplies:
Stamps - Giga Guide Lines, Background Basics: Retro, Polka Dot Basics 2
Ink - Versamark, True Black, Plum Pudding
Paper - Plum Pudding, Lavender Moon, Stamper's Select White
Miscellaneous - Green Grosgrain Ribbon, Lavender Rhinestone, Lavender Floss

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My sweet friends Laura and Brandi both nominated me for the over the top award (thanks girlies!!). When you receive this award you have to follow two easy rules:

a) I need to pass this award on to five people and let them know on their blog I left this award for them.

b) I need to answer a list of questions in ONE WORD

1. Where is your cell phone? car
2. Your hair? shaggy
3. Your mother? strong
4. Your father? witty
5. Your favorite food? mexican
6. Your dream last night? strange
7. Your favorite drink? caffeine
8. Your dream/goal? heaven
9. What room are you in? living
10. Your hobby? crafts
11. Your fear? attention
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
13. Where were you last night? shopping
14. Something that you aren’t? chatty
15. Muffins? Yes!
16. Wish list item? computer
17. Where did you grow up? US
18. Last thing you did? blog
19. What are you wearing? clothes
20. Your TV? small
21. Your Pets? brats
22. Friends? blessings
23. Your life? chaotic
24. Your mood? sleepy
25. Missing Someone? no
26. Vehicle? van
27. Something your not wearing? jewelry
28. Your favorite store? williams-sonoma
29. Your favorite color? lime
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? dunno
32. Your best friend? Jen
33. One place that I go to over and over? church
34. Facebook? sometimes
35. Favorite place to eat? kitchen

Five people that I would pass this award on to? Toooooo hard to pick! So, if you've ever wanted to do one of these, but no one has ever tagged you, consider yourself tagged! :)

FTL64 - Thankful for You

101809b, originally uploaded by inglishrea.

Hi everyone! Our weather is gorgeous today... Such a nice break from the cold temps we've been having lately. LOL, like 50 degrees is really all that cold, but you know what I mean. *wink*

Today has been an all-around awesome day! I got to go out to breakfast with my hubby and then did some shopping, and our daughter had an amazing day at school! Yay! On a side note, I'm also being featured today on the Torendi blog. I was so surprised to get an email from them, and am totally overjoyed!! :)

Okay, enough about me! :) On to today's card... This simple card was created using the most recent Fall-to Layout Sketch on the Clean & Simple Stamping blog. I'm not really sure how much I'm loving this color combo... Sometimes I look at it and I really like it, and sometimes I look at it and think it needs PINK. LOL

Supplies:
Stamps - Fall Elegance
Ink - Orange Zest, Stazon Brown
Paper - Old Olive, Orange Zest, Stamper's Select White, Aqua Mist, Dark Chocolate Bitty Box
Miscellaneous - Corner Rounder, 2" Circle Punch, Spring Moss Grosgrain Ribbon

Housekeeping...

Over the past few days, there has been a deluge of Feedblitz subscription cancellations. Since I've come to the realization that I do not have an uber thick skin, and I haven't been able to find the silly box to uncheck in Feedblitz to remove notification for cancellations, I'm going to be removing that particular subscription feature from my blog sidebar.

You will still be able to subscribe via the Google Reader button (I love Reader!) or by becoming a Blogger Follower. Neither of those options will email me to let me know you've left and are no longer stopping by... LOL

I know that subscribers come and go, and that it's not really personal as people's preferences change, but it's really hard not to take it that way... We are our own worst critics, and I'm doing very well being ridiculously critical of my own stamping skills, thank-you-very-much. *wink* LOL

I'm very sorry if this inconveniences any of you, it just kills me to see cancellation after cancellation coming to my inbox. I hope you understand and will continue to stop by...

Thanks.

Fun News & CAS24

Happy Monday!!

Some fun news! I'm one of the new Featured Designers for Whipper Snapper for the July & August term! Wooot! I was totally shocked when I received an email from Anna Wight asking me if I would like to be a designer... I mean, ME?! LOL, coloring in images is not my strong suit. :) Hahah, I know most people are somewhat self-deprecating, but I *mean* it. :P My friend Sandra was one of the Featured Designers for the last term, and she is amazing! She could color circles around me with her eyes closed, using nothing but a q-tip and crayola paint!! LOL

In all seriousness, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with the new featured designers, it means so much that they would take a chance on me! :)

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This is the card I created for today's Clean & Simple Challenge on SCS. Today's challenge was a color challenge: Turquoise, Yellow & Orange. Such fun, summery colors! :)


Stamps - Vintage Basket Sentiments
Ink - Summer Sunrise
Paper - Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, DCWV Citrus Stack
Miscellaneous - Bigz Lattice Die, Bigz Butterfly Die, Teal Rhinestones

Spotlight Week 5 & A birthday!

I can't believe it! My card made it into the Spotlight this week! LOL, I was scanning through the top picks, and didn't even notice my card until I got down to the individual names! Heather P? Oh my word, that's ME! *insert flabbergasted face*

The Raspberry Suite challenges are one of my "must-do" challenges! Dawn has a serious eye for color and her combinations are always rockin'.

Isn't this the cutest?! My mom sent this adorable little cupcake bouquet to my daughter (My "baby" turned 4 yesterday!). It's crazy to think that another year has gone by. It truly seems like yesterday I was looking at her sweet face for the first time! Isn't it funny how time seems to stand still when you're young, but as you get older, it absolutely FLIES by?! Sometimes I wish I could press the pause button...

Here's Lindsay getting ready to take a huge bite of cheesecake... I wanted to get a couple of pictures of her on her birthday, but she didn't want to smile, she just wanted me to take shots of her eating. LOL

FTL40 - Thank You

I created this card using the Fall-to Layout #40 sketch, and the Matryoshka Dolls stamp set from My Cute Stamps. My mom used to watch my daughter three days a week when I was still working outside the home, and Lindsay was forever getting into my mom's Matryoshka Dolls, so I just HAD to get this set! She loves the little nesting dolls to pieces. :)

The background image was created by repeatedly stamping the small floral image in Kiwi Kiss ink onto the card base... LOL, I thought it was going to take a while to stamp it out, but it was done in no time! :)

Have a great one!

Stamps - Matryoshka Dolls
Ink - Kiwi Kiss, Memento Black, Copics
Paper - Whisper White, Basic Black
Miscellaneous - Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Marvy Giga Scallop Oval Punch, Marvy Mega Oval Punch

Every Princess Needs a Crown...

LOL, mine just has to improvise... :)




I made this card for last week's Sketch Challenge on SCS... You know what they say, better late than never! :)

Have a great one!

Stamps - Tea for Two

Ink - Raspberry Fizz, Versamark, Aqua Mist

Paper - Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist, Polka Dot Parade, Spring Moss

Miscellaneous - Spring Moss Swiss Dot Ribbon, UTEE

Smile

This is just a super quick card that I made with one of the new sets I got with Papertrey's April release... There was a little bit of a learning curve when I was trying to make sure the colors stayed inside the lines, but I think I've just about got it down. LOL

Going anywhere fun this year on vacation? My husband and I haven't taken a vacation since we've been married, but we're going down to the Outer Banks for a week this summer before our daughter goes back to school. I think my vision took a bit of a beating with all the time I spent going from web site to web site trying to find the right house. LOL, I'm so glad that part is over!

Have a great one! :)

Stamps - Background Basics: Spots & Dots, Mega Mixed Messages
Paper - Raspberry Fizz, Smokey Shadow, Whisper White
Ink - Raspberry Fizz, Smokey Shadow, Lemon Tart
Accessories - Raspberry Fizz Swiss Dot Ribbon, Prima Hydrangea, Hisbiscus Burst Button, Basic Grey Mellow Button

CAS11 - Celebrate Today

Last week was quite a week for me! LOL, I went from being on no design teams to being on two in the span of a few days. :) I love the stamps over at My Cute Stamps, Holly's style is so cool! I am just super excited that I was even asked to be a part of their team. :)

I created this card for Monday's Clean & Simple challenge on SCS. The challenge this week was to pick something from the kid's bedding/accessories department from JC Penneys and use it as your inspiration. I picked the bedding shown below as my inspiration piece:

Sooooo cute! :) I seem to be obsessed with hot pink and green, so this caught my eye right away.

Have a great one! :)

Stamps - Mega Mixed Messages, With Sympathy

Ink - Raspberry Fizz, Stazon Black
Paper - Raspberry Fizz, Whisper White, Basic Grey Urban Prairie

Miscellaneous - Stickles

TECC54 - Love is in the air

My daughter is quite the budding artist... Just look at the beautiful drawing she left for me on my laptop! *rolls eyes* LOL, she's so naughty! What amazes me is just how FAST she can do these types of things. It literally took her less than 1 minute to grab a marker, sit down at my computer, color in a handful of the dots and say "look mommy, I colored your computer." Oh, how sweet of you...



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This card was created for the TECC54 Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge. You can find a copy of the sketch here. Once again I found myself reaching for the scissors. :) I thought to myself, wouldn't it be fun to make the little cupid cupcake look like he's flying? LOL

Details:
Stamps - Taylored Expressions Love is in the Air, Taylored Expressions A Year of Sweet Sentiments
Ink - Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, Stazon Black
Paper - Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Basic Grey Blush
Miscellaneous - Aqua Satin Ribbon, Curly Label Punch, Large Oval Punch