"Love is Sweet"

 

Wowser, Christmas came and went at lightning speed.  Hope you all have a fabulous Christmas.  Ours was small and cozy.  Thanks to our number 2 son who enjoys cooking, he was a fantastic help preparing most of the dishes which we also shared with our neighbor.  On the menu was Korean BBQ Chicken cooked on the grill, Pulled Pork, Baked Ham, Corn Chowder, Edamame Rice, Tofu Salad, and Lemon Crunch Cake like the one from the former Young Hotel on Oahu back in the 50's.  All I made was the Edamame Rice and Tofu Salad.   That allowed me time to do some major house cleaning such as jealousies, etc.  We're also painting the bedrooms.

 

Today, I'm sharing a card I made several weeks ago for a wedding shower.  The image is by Penny Black.  I also used Copics, Spellbinder die, punch by Martha Stewart, DP from my ever-growing stash, flowers & buds by Inky Impressions and Wild Orchids, Ribbon from Stamps and Memories (on Oahu), charm by Inky Impressions, leaf punch by EK, distress ink, pearls by Kaiser Crafts, and sentiment by Hero Arts.

 

Here's  a close-up.....

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday - "Challenge 249 - Anything Goes"
Fussy and Fancy - "Challenge 79 - Furry Friends"
Charisma Cardz Challenge - "Challenge 51 - Anything Goes"
Little Miss Muffet Challenge - "Challenge 51 - Anything Goes"
Tuesday Alchemy - "Challenge 46 - Anything Goes"

Wishing you all a warm, safe, healthy, and prosperous 2013.  Thanks for poppin' in for a visit. 

My Final Batch of Christmas Cards

OMG, I can't believe Christmas is next week already.  Here is my last batch of cards for this year.  Woo-hoo, all pau (finished).

 

For this card I used ornament dies by Memory Box, sentiment by Dandelion Designs, embossing folder by Sizzix, pine and pine cone stamps by Stampin' Up, Spellbinder dies, DP from stash, shiny CS by DCWV, gold peel stickers for ornaments by Stampendous, and twine.

 

And here are 3 of them.....

 

 

I'm entering the first card in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me - "Winter Wonderland Bumper Christmas Challenge"

Kaboodle Doodles - "Challenge 150 - Christmas/Holidays Anything Goes"

Paper Pretties - "Create A Christmas Creation"

Fashionista - "Wk. 2 - Winter Challenge"

Paper Playtime - "Challenge 91 - Winter Fun"

ABC Christmas Challenge - "Y is for Your Favorite Punch/Die"

 

Thanks for poppin' in for a visit.  Hope you Have a Scrap Happy Day.



Magnetic "Tag" Calendars

Whew,  I finished!!!  YAAAAY!!!  Do you  remember I mentioned in a previous post that I spent at least 17 hours crafting the other weekend?   Here's what I was working on.    As my own Christmas tradition, I enjoy enclosing a little gift with my Christmas cards and I must say this image by Dandelion Design was a life saver.   I knew I wanted to make some kind of calendar gift.  While tossing some ideas around and not coming up with anything, I saw this image on the Dandelion Designs blog.   Oh, I thought, 'WHOA, THAT'S IT!!!'  This was a "must have."  Thanks Lynn for coming up with this cute idea.   The mini calendars fit SO PERFECTLY!!!   I got the other image too.

 

Other items I used were Sizzix "Tags, Rounded" dies, Copics, embossing folder with Cherry Blossom design by Cuttlebug for the pink piece, ribbon by Offray, strip magnet affixed to the back, and distress ink. 

Here are 54 of them.....

Here one with a red kimono....

 And one with a purple kimono.....

I'm entering the first tag in the following challenges:
Tuesday Alchemy - "Challenge 44 - Anything Goes"
Totally Stampalicious - "Anything Goes"
Love to Create - "Challenge 45 - Anything Goes"
Wags 'n Whiskers - "Challenge 94 - Anything Goes"
Crafts and Me Challenge - "Challenge 113 - Anything Goes"

My 7th Batch of Christmas Cards - A Cutie by Whipper Snapper

Hi Peeps!  How are you all doing with your Christmas "to do" thingys?  Would you believe I crafted for at least 17 hours this past weekend?   Yup, no exaggeration.  But these cards aren't what I worked on.   I'll post my "project" after all of my Christmas cards are mailed and received.   During the 4-day Thanksgiving weekend, I usually get a lot of crafty stuff done but since we were on a trip, I had to jam like crazy.   I told my hubby I'm not cleaning house this weekend, crafting takes priority.  LOL.  I don't think our house is very messy.  :-)  Well, whatdaya know, he cleaned house for me, toilets too.  Woo-hoo.  I should tell him that every weekend.   Nah, nah. 

 

For this card, I used the cute stamp by Whipper Snapper which I bought at Cute Stuff on Oahu.  That was a "must have."  I altered it a bit to make this a "Christmas" theme by adding a gift image by Dandelion Design on the wagon. The original stamp has a flower and kitty in the wagon.  I also used Spellbinder dies including "Fancy Tags",  Copics, sentiment by Dandelion Designs, punch by Martha Stewart, DP from stash, holly flourish by Cheery Lynn, and ribbon by Offray. 

 

 And here are 7 of them....

I'm entering my first card in the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - "Anything Goes"
Loves Rubberstamps - "Week 29-Anything Goes"
Top Tip Tuesday - "Challenge #91-Christmas"
Lollipop Crafts - "Challenge 95-Happy Holidays"
Cheery Lynn - "Challenge 57-Happy Holidays"
The Cupcake Craft Room - "Anything Goes for Christmas"
Lady Bug Crafts - "Challenge 4-Christmas and/or Winter"
Crafts 4 Eternity - "R#100-Christmas Chaos"
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - "Challenge 77-I Love Christmas"

Thanks for stopping by.  Wishing you a fun and crafty day.

Shopping Black Friday in Vegas and a CAS Card

Here's a card I made for a wonderful co-worker who left the firm I work for.   She's one heck of an amazing person and I'm a truly going to miss her.  I wish her well.

 

For this card, I used a plumeria DP and "Aloha" laser cut sentiment from Island Scrapbooking.  The DP comes on a sheet with 3 identical prints.   Isn't it pretty?  I also used Spellbinder dies, punch by Fiskars, beige striped DP from my stash, butterfly punch by Martha Stewart, and rhinestones by Crystal Stickers.

Our family flew out to Vegas on Thanksgiving Day and arrived just before midnight .  We stayed at the Golden Nugget for the first time in Downtown.   Awesome place!!!   I'd stay there again.  Personally, I prefer Downtown rather that the strip.

One of the restaurants we ate at (3 times) was Island Sushi at The Plaza.   OMG, THAT is my new favorite restaurant in Vegas.  Check this out, my hubby ordered the "All You Can Eat Sushi."  The menu had a bunch of other yummilicious things other than sushi."    If you go to Vegas, you MUST eat here.

Among the MANY things he ordered was Hamachi Kama (I think that's what it's called).   You should've seen the look on his face when he was done....PAIN!!!!    LOL.   I ordered the Shrimp Tempura Teishoku with California Roll Sushi.  (Sorry, no pix of that). 

My SIL and I are not gamblers so we shopped till we dropped on Black Friday and Saturday.  Lucky for me she and my BIL drive in Vegas with no fear.  You wouldn't find me behind the wheel....LOL.  First stop on Friday was Blue Diamond Shopping Center.  I got a real-deal at Kohl's, 2 tops totalling $11.00 PLUS a 15% discount.  CHA-CHING!!!  Got some great deals at Target (60% off 2 tops) and Big Lots at this shopping center.  CHA-CHING!!!

2nd stop was Premium Outlet (Downtown).  OMG, thank goodness my BIL suggested he drop us off.   He KNEW traffic would be bad and boy was he right.   We were among MANY, MANY vehicles at a complete stop and couldn't even get close to the parking structure so my SIL got out of the van and walked about a block.   One of the super deals I got were on Crocs sandals, Buy One, Get One Free.   CHA-CHING!!!

On Saturday, we shopped at Premium Outlet (old Bellz).  Got some great deals on t-shirts (Hurley and RVCA) for the boys, 2 for $25.00.  CHA-CHING!!!  Next stop was Town Square and I got some deals at The Bath and Body Shop and Whole Foods.  Third stop was M&M's World on the strip.  My nieces sure had fun shopping here while Aunty (me) got a cool bling-bling  t-shirt.  Check out all that colorful candy. 

Back to Island Sushi.  Hubby ordered Fried Noodes.  That was surprising because he's really not a noodle kind a person.  He's a meat and gravy kind of guy.

Yup, you guessed it.   I ordered Won Ton Mein and boy was that deeeeelicious.

On Saturday night, we had a surprise birthday dinner for my MIL at the Chart House at the Golden Nugget.   Here's the simple favor I bought/made.   The Chocolate Dipped Fortune Cookie is from Big Island Delights.   It was nice because they're individually wrapped and all I had to do was make the tags, 14 of them.

I'm not a drinker but heck, we were on vacation so I ordered the Fleur de Lis.  It has coconut rum and pineapple juice, etc.   Ohhhh, that was GOOOOOD!!!   On rare occasions that I do have a drink, I enjoy those that taste like juice.  LOL.    

Here's a pix of hubby's Lobster Bisque.   I tasted it and it sure was yummy.

Hubby and I LOVE crab.  We and our youngest son ordered it.   BAD MOVE.   For me, it was a toss up between Alaskan King Crab or Scallops.   I should've order the scallops.  Others who ordered the scallops said it was very good.   We were so disappointed with the crab.  This is supposed to be 1 1/2 lbs. of crab....yah, must be shell weight.  Plus, most of the pieces were at room temperature and a couple were cold, like out of the refrigerator.   We like it hot.  We paid "market price" for this....54 bucks.  What a rip-off.  Last time we go there.

Desserts was the Lava Cake.  That was good.

On Sunday we had brunch at The Buffet at the Golden Nugget.  This is a pix of my first of 4 plates.   No shame yah?  Oink.

Hard to tell we like to eat.   Hee-hee.

Thanks to stopping by.  Have a great week!!!