It’s the Papertrey Ink Release tonight!! Will you be there? I will. 

I’m coming back to the top of this post, after typing to say I have NO IDEA why I am so chatty today!!! Sorry-skip the banter if you want! LOL! I do have samples.

I don’t think I am EVER done, ever caught up, or as much as I sometimes feel “ahead”, I really am never that either! LOL! When I do have extra time (does that really ever exist??) then I usually agree to do something else to quickly fill that gap. I know, especially as a parent I am not the only one who does this!

Anyway, I am super happy to report Amber had a great day (even though Alexa wasn’t there. She stayed at her fathers :C Its OK cause we are going to have an actual party in Sept), and my exercising is going awesome. I already notice a difference. I know, you think HOW??? Well my jeans slid up quite nicely, and I have been doing an hour of cardio a day. I BETTER see some difference! LOL! Hey, even if its in my head, I’m OK with that.

Amber’s birthday yesterday I resisted any cake, we went to Friendly’s and I gave up my fries, no “happy ending” sundae for me. Jay made egg sandwiches for breakfast and I had shredded wheat (yes it is the sugar coated, but give me a break!!). Instead of drive thru on our way out for the day I packed a whole wheat pasta salad I made with all fresh veggies, and a granola bar, and I am drinking lots of water, to replace that 3 cups of coffee, and diet soda I normally drink.

As doctor Phil would say “Don’t say you have to lose X pounds, say I have to lose 1lb.”Each day is new and I am not looking at the big picture. ONE STEP. Just like my bracelet says “The journey of a 1,000 miles begins with a single step” Hey I think I need to find a way  to add that to my blog permanently. Its like my life motto 😀

Anyway. Always a bunch going on here. Counting down the days till school starts! LOL!  Noah & Amber will start soccer soon, Amber will also begin another year of dance classes, Alexa will be in Girl Scouts, and Alexa is enrolled in Cheer-leading! I know. Weird. At first I thought NO WAY!!

Alexa’s father’s wife teaches it at a school. So she enrolled Alexa. I was kind of put off at that thinking it wasn’t for her. Well Alexa goes to the practices and does love it. When I mentioned my thoughts of it to Jay he said “I think its a great idea! She loves to dance. You always say you hate when people limit her, so why are YOU doing it?”

WOW! Did that ever shut me up!! I guess I didn’t see it as limiting her, but I really was. If she enjoys it, then I guess that is all that matters!! What was I thinking, not wanting her to do something she may like? I guess I want her to be able to keep up with all the other girls her age, and I get scared when I think she may not be “as good”. That is so wrong!!! Who cares? All that matters is that she is HAPPY and likes what she is doing. She may even surprise me! She often does. I can’t believe ME of all people, was about to do the one thing I hate other people doing. But I acknowledged that (thanks to my honest husband) and will hope to be more concious of that in the future.

Why am I blabbering about this? I’m not sure. I guess so many of you have taken this journey with me of having a child with special needs, that I feel OK sharing my good and bad parenting moments. The important thing is to learn by them, and don’t be a hypocrite! I was doing something without even realizing it. So there you have it. Alexa WILL be in cheer-leading as long as SHE wants to be.

OK so you would never believe my main post was suppose to be about short on time and deadlines! LOL!

I got this  Sweet and Sassy Kit from Katie at3 Little DReaMs. The kits is available for Pre-order until August 15th.

She asked if I’d try them out, and give my thoughts! Well I am just sliding in under the deadline! LOL! I have to say I have NEVER gotten any kit, ever, so I had no idea what to expect.

I did make 3 samples so far. Unfortunately this just arrived the other day, and my time was quite limited!! I can tell you I made all 3 cards I am sharing today, early this morning, using only items from the kit (well minus my sewing machine, and a piece a vellum -don’t shoot me! LOL!), and was done in 1 1/2 hours, including photographing/editing.

3-dreams-bird-1.jpg  Just sing

(The card is placed on a angle onto a piece of chocolate card-stock to photograph)

This one was my favorite, and my first one. Its all asymmetrical, yet balanced I feel, and I just love.

I used some of the paper for a tab. Lots of distressing, and some sewing on this. The flowers, ribbon and brads, all part of the kit.

Next up is card #2

3-dreams-bird-2-choice.jpg Chirp Up!

I actually colored the bird with some shimmery paints and its really so soft and pretty in person. The papers are distressed, so I distressed most of this too. It has a real nature feel. Again, remember I don’t do real nature well. I am certain you could get someone else to work with this set and it would rock your world! LOL! I just loved the little bird image and wanted to step out of that comfort zone!

Lastly card 3

3-dreams-bird-3.jpg

(not bad for a mornings work eh?)

More layering and distressing. I didn’t want to use the entire bird. I think its cute. Not my best card, but not too bad. I do love the papers she chose in the kit though. They are super cute.

I can see WHY people enjoy the whole Kit thing. I know my Kits have done really well too (thanks to all of you!! ).

Depending on the kit you choose, you get a stamp or stamp set with all the matching cardstock, and patterned paper to make some projects.Then there are add-on choices. No brainer!! I like that. Especially when you LOVE happy mail, and need some incentive to get stamping, I think these are great. Many people seem to like things put together for them.

I think you get more than enough paper/cardstock to create several cards, then have some leftover.

So the Sweet & Sassy kit I got to use was $28.00. She dropped the shipping this month too, to $5.50, which is really good too.

Katie has a Yahoo! Group, and starting September 1st will have a rewards program. It will benefit new members, and anyone who spreads the word, and those who subscribe. She’ll post that info soon. I think its great when any company rewards stuff like that, that helps get them business. After-all its all word of mouth!!

The consumers can make or break a new company. I know I take my fellow stampers word over an advertisement any day.

So I IF you are still with me WOW! You must be really bored today to read my ramblings! LOL!!!  I wish I were a tad more interesting but I a stamp crazed SAHM, with not much of a life these days.

Tomorrow I will share ALL my PTI release peeks, so I hope you come back!

Later-