We're In Italy!!!

After months and months of preparation and anticipation, we are finally here!!! Sorry it has been so long since I've been able to post on my blog, but I haven't really had the time. Plus, the internet connection is so incredibly slow here, that it takes forever to long onto the internet and get the pictures uploaded and all that. So, this isn't going to be a stamping related post (I haven't had ANY stamping time in about 2 weeks!) but there are a lot of pictures of our trip. Enjoy! Our trip started in Honolulu, and we left there on Monday the 12th in the afternoon. After a long flight to California, we landed in Oakland and got picked up by my Mom and drove to Newman California, where some of my family lives. We stayed the night there, some family came to visit us, then we went on to San Fransisco to hop on our next plane. Here's a picture of the boys in a rare moment of them getting along... When we landed in New York, there was a lot of confusion with our tickets. Here's a picture of Ashton waiting while our tickets got fixed. It took over an hour to get things in order, and then we had to go through security AGAIN! After New York, we landed in Rome just in time to RUSH through the airport, including two MORE security checks, and get to our connecting gate. Our flight was boarding as we ran up to it, so we got right on. Then, we waited in the plane for over an hour before they got clearance to take off! Boy, we had quite the adventure going on. We finally landed in Venice, and despite being exhausted and completely jet lagged, we were extrememly happy to be at our final destination. Here's a picture of me and the kiddos with all our luggage:David had been waiting at the airport for about 2 hours because of our delays, but he was happy to see us regardless. You should have seen what he picked us up in! It was pretty much a mini bus! LOL! It was the only thing available that would seat the 6 of us and all our luggage. I tried to get a picture of it, but someone else must have rented it because it hasn't been at the rental lot all week. Here's a picture I got of David driving the bus though!

We were enthralled with all the differences we saw along the road. Here is one of the road signs we saw along the way home:And one of the many beautiful, ancient homes we saw as well:It took us over 24 hours to get to Venice and then finally to our temporary home at the Air Force Inn, but we made it and we're very happy to be here. This is a picture of Ashton in front of our building:And here is Angel and Ashton all ready for bed: After this long, LOOOOONG trip, I've come to realize that my timing is all wrong. Every single time I try to do something the way I want to do it, and when I want to do it, it does not work. I must always remember to leave all my major and important decisions in God's hands, and He will work it out perfectly, in His timing. I just have to ask for His direction, and follow that the best I can. I am so happy to be here, even through the many struggles and bumps we are experiencing (that's a-whole-nother blog post!) and I thank God that our family is together again. Thank you all for coming by after my long absence!

Until next post, be blessed!

Pink Cat Studio images!

Hey there everyone. It's late on Thursday the 8th, so you are probably reading this on Friday the 9th. If that's the case, you're reading this on my birthday! Yup, another year older. I think it's going to be my best year yet. So, wanna see what I've been working on lately? Pink Cat Studio has some of the cutest images. There is this one in particular, and her name is Lily! Right now Pink Cat Studio is having a contest to use the digital image of Lily the Fairy and make a card with her. I made two cards for the contest and here is the first one: I had never used a digital image before and it was a lot simpler than I thought it would be. I just printed it out and there you go! I colored the images with my copic markers but had to be careful because the ink from the ink jet printer smeared if I went over it with my marker. Also, I discovered a way to flip the image so I think that first card has the image facing the opposite direction than was originally intended. Here is the other card I made:

I really like this one. I used Doodlefactory stamps to make a little scene for Lily the Fairy to be playing it. The mushrooms and clouds we all strategically stamped around the digital image, and then colored with my copic markers. I had a lot of fun using whatever colors I wanted to use, without worrying if they looked "real" or not. And next, I made something not for the contest, but for my daughter's new room when we get to Italy. Here it is:

Isn't this cute? I plan on doing her room in a fairy tale type of theme with princesses, castles, dragons, and fairies! I hope you can click on the picture and see it up close. There's some little dew drops around Angel's name and I used rhinestone buttons on the wand. I cut out Lily the Fairy so she'll be a little more dimensional over the name. I hope you all like it. I can't wait to get to Italy and put it up in Angel's room!
So that's it for this post. Thank you all so much for stopping by and checking out my projects.

Until next post, be blessed!

Sewed Valentine

Hey there blog readers! How are you all today? It's Wednesday, just a few days until my birthday and my blogaversary! Wow, I can't believe it's been a year since I started this blog. I still feel like a newbie, and that I have a lot to learn about this blog stuff. But it's been fun and I've met a lot of great people through this blog. Since we'll be heading off to Italy later this week, I am going to have to postpone my Blog Candy Giveaway until we get there. Don't worry, it will be worth the wait! I have some yummy stuff to giveaway. Stuff that I would keep if I didn't have two of them! OK, so on to the card for today. Yesterday I failed to post another card for Gina's challenges that I completed. The challenge was to sew on your card. I have NEVER sewn on a card before, but my mom helped me handle the sewing machine and this is what I came up with: Isn't it cool? I love this card (yes, I'm being a little conceited) because it was all new to me and turned out so much better than I anticipated. I used Melanie Muenchinger's New stamp set and Basic Grey DP's along with SU! card stock. So, do you think I should get myself a sewing machine and sew on more cards? There's this really cute, purple, little sewing machine at Wal-Mart that I'm eyeing, and if I buy it now I can mail it to myself in Italy! Hm... what to do, what to do. Maybe get myself a birthday present? What do you all think?
I hope you all have a great Wednesday and rest of the week.
Until next post, be blessed!

It's VISA Day!

I'm so excited because today we get to pick up our visas from the passport office, which means we can now buy our plane tickets to get outta dodge! WooHoo!!! This is literally the last thing to wait on before we make REAL, TANGIBLE plans to fly away to Italy. I know I'm anxious to finally get there and get our lives in order, and my husband (who's been in Italy for a week now) is anxious to see us as well. In the meantime, I'm going to stamp just a few more things and then pack up all my supplies and mail them off to my new home. Here are a few cards that I stamped last week for some of Gina's New Years challenges. This first card was for the challenge to make a black and white card. The beautiful butterfly is from GKD's Take Flight stamp set. This set is FREE when you buy three sets this month. Every month GKD has a "one free with three" and then after the month is over, the free set is available for purchase. I love this set and plan on using it A LOT more. I stamped and embossed the butterfly onto GKD Pure Luxury 120lb card stock, then stamped the butterfly again on vellum. Cut it out of the vellum and glued it's body to the embossed butterfly. The sentiment is from Flowers for Daisy, another stamp set from GKD. This next challenge was to make a card from a Christmas card I had received. This is the card I received:

And this is the card I made:

I used Stampin' Up!'s new trio heart punch to punch out the hearts from the old card to make this new Valentines day card. I used GKD's Cuppa Joe stamp set and paper pieced the coffee and foam. I love how this one turned out! I also punched scallops on the edge of some red paper and glued it to the inside of the card for a little extra embellishment! The inside of the card says "...cuppa joe!" Get it? My son didn't. LOL! This last card was for a challenge to have a piece of paper "off kilter".

I used Stampin' Up!'s new valentine stamp set to make this card. I had fun using up the last of my Hero Arts rhinestone hearts on this card and using my Sakura gel pen to color in my heart.

So, I'm about ready for Valentine's Day, how about you? It's only a month away! I usually just send a few cards to my friends, but if I can get my act together (and get all my supplies to Italy in time) I think I'll send more Valentines out this year. I have to send out our new address as well, so maybe these cards will serve two purposes? We'll see!

I hope you all have been having a wonderful 2009 so far. Have you made and kept any resolutions/goals for the year? Let me know!

Until next post, be blessed!

DoodleFactory Home Sweet Home

I love DoodleFactory Images by Starving Artistamps. Have you been to their webshop yet? Go HERE to check it out, but come back, ok? I want you to see my very first clear card! I hope you came back, cuz here it is:

I made this card for Starving Artistamps' Clearly Cool Card Challenge on Papercraft Planet. This is the first Clear Card I have ever made. I used SA's castle from their Fairy Tale set and colored it in pretty girly colors with my copic markers. I cut it out and glued it onto some pretty paper by Imaginesce. Then I had to layer the paper inside to cover up the glue dots I used to stick it on the the clear card. Do you like it? I think I need to get some more acetate to make more clear cards cuz his was fun and I have lots more ideas!
So, did you go to StarvingArtistamps? Did you notice that they are giving away some new stamps? YES, they are! If you want to win some DF stamps, go to their blog HERE, read all about it, and enter to win!
Once again, thanks so much for stopping by, and until next post, be blessed.

Let Your Dreams Take Flight

Hey there everyone! How is your new year starting out so far? I hope it's already the best year ever. I have HIGH hopes for this year.
Last week I made a few cards just for fun. It was nice to get away from the Holiday cards and make some stuff with some of my new craft goodies that I received for Christmas. This particular card was so easy and quick. Mom and I were browsing around Ben Franklin Crafts one day and I saw this gorgeous pack of paper called Jolie Chocolat by SEI. Mom said I HAD to have it (as long as I promised to actually USE it) so she bought it for me. Then, Gina K. Designs released her gorgeous butterfly stamp set called "Take Flight" and I had to have it to use with the SEI paper, so Mom bought me the stamps for Christmas! I finally made a card with the paper and the stamps and here it is:
This picture does not do this card justice! The paper is simply beautiful with pinks, browns, greys, and lot of glitter. I inked up the butterfly using the rock and roll method with bravo burgundy and chocolate chip ink then stamped it on some Pure Luxury cardstock and cut it out. I then colored it in lightly with some of my new Koh-i-noor pencils (another Christmas gift from Mom) then I popped it up on a couple layers of foam tape and stuck it on the paper. Then I stamped the sentiment "Let your dreams take flight!" in Chocolate right onto the paper to make it look like it was made to be there. I love how this card turned out and if I can get a better picture of it tomorrow, I'm going to replace it! ETA: Here's a new picture of the card:

It's a little better. What do you all think? I also forgot to take a picture of the inside of the card! Sheesh, I really need to have another photo session with this card. ETA: Here is the inside! I used pink pirouette ink to stamp the butterfly so it would be behind the sentiment.
I made this card with someone particular in mind to send it to, but then I thought that it would be pretty appropriate for everyone to recieve in the new year so... This card is for YOU! I hope all of you have dreams that take flight this year.

Until next post, be blessed!

OH! I almost forgot to tell you! Gina K. is having a New Year celebration over on her blog and on SCS. Go HERE to check it out. AND, Melanie Muenchinger is having a blogaversary celebration on her blog! Go HERE to check that out. There are lots of goodies to be had, and lots of fun stuff to look at and participate in. Enjoy!

Happy 2009!!!

Happy New Year to all my Friends and Family! Wow, what a year, huh? It has been so full of ups and downs, in both our economy and in my own life! LOL! I have been so blessed this year. First off, I'd like to let you all know about the BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT, EVER!!! Remember in the last post that I said the kids were going to get a great present the day after Christmas? Well, here it is: Or should I say, Here HE is?!?! YES! That's my husband! Since we finally got our orders, the AF sent him here for a couple days on his way to Italy. He got here on Boxing day and spent a wonderful weekend with us. Because he was only allowed a certain amount of days, we had to take him to the airport on Sunday. That was not fun, but we'll be seeing him again in just about a week. He's in Italy already, getting things set up for us, and then we'll be joining him just as soon as our Visas get to us! Anyway, it was a complete surprise for the kids that David got to come here. We didn't tell them, I just loaded them all up in the van and took them to the airport to pick up Dad, and they didn't even question it! The boys were so busy playing with their new Christmas gifts (and Angel was asleep) that they didn't even notice where we were until right before we saw David. We had a wonderful weekend just hanging out and enjoying being together.
This whole year has been filled with blessings (even if I had to have my patience tested again and AGAIN while waiting on these orders-LOL!). The kids and I are ready to get to Italy, reunite once again with David, and start our new adventure in a new country. I am looking forward to many more blessings this coming year, and I hope the same for all of you.
Until next post, be blessed!