Ahoy thar matey!

- What's the next card making holiday?

- How many embellishments are too many?

- Oh send a Halloween card, they are great fun to receive!

This card isn't even from my stash of Halloween supplies!  I saw a cute card and then something on Heidi Swapps blog with the House of 3.... embellishments times 3... with banners and crepe paper and inking the edges.  Too cute not to follow the lead and come up with my own, similar, yet different Halloween card. Do you think it's too much?

- Official site to Talk Like a Pirate Day

- Why not have some fun this weekend

- You could win some booty (A nautical term for treasure)

The House of Shine (not to be confused with the House of 3) wants you to host a family fun Talk Like a Pirate Bingo Game this weekend, in honor of this 'great' national holiday.  The party host who collects the most donations for the HOS Yellow Envelope Project wins one of 5 special theme related tool belts.  You could even win mine, pictured above.  The card makers tool belt!!  You could make your own card to send to someone who SHINES!!!!  For more details go to P-aaaaarty!

Do this, or I'll make yer walk thee plank!  Aaaaarrrrr!!!

Guess What?

Can you figure out what all these cards have in common?  And what they will be used for?

I can't believe it.  The first morning in months that we have woken up and the temperature was in the 50's.  Yikes!  Almost don't know what do do about that.  Embrace it?  Or, think sadly that summer is coming to a close and the dreaded next season will be upon us.  We've had so many hot and humid days! 

Sissy's sophomore volleyball team won again last night.  Yay!  Varsity looks like they may have a very tough year.  They lost in 3 games.  Parent analysis of what's going on is rampid! hee hee  I am so happy NOT to be in high school.  My back is still hurting, I'm doing things like trimming bushes and power cleaning the hall tile despite the pain.  Stuffs gotta get done!

Did you figure it out my title question?  All the cards are majorly yellow!!  Once the Yellow Awning Shop is up and running over at the House of Shine, I'm going to be able to have a venue to sell my cards with a special look that makes them SHINE.  More details to come. 
Happy Labor Day Weekend!

It Comes Down to This!

I entered a challenge, and I won!  Yay me!  I actually won $100.  Below is a photo of one of my 3 entries.  If you want to know more about it you can check it out here at the House of Shine.

Although I could use $100 bucks, I decided to 'give back' my winnings.  I don't want praises and thank you's.  It was the right thing to do.  Our life coach (CKB, phD) on the House of Shine has a great dream to recognize every day people who SHINE at what they do.  And often times these regular people don't get the thanks and adulation they deserve for making their corner of the world a better place.  By reinvesting my winnings, we can recognize at least 5 people, and will be able to brighten their day and say "Thank You, You made a difference in so many peoples live" through the Yellow Envelope Project,

I think you can click on the picture and get a better view of some of the 'things' I've been creating.  Paper flowers and lots of mini scrapbooks with fuzzy fiber and rockin ribbon hanging off the sides.  Earlier that day I walked through an eclectic shop downtown and just had fun looking at displays in the store.  I am amazed with someone who has such talent to make eye candy on a crazy nook and cranny.  I want to work for a person like that.  My ultimate job, being the assistant to someone who is very busy in a creative way, and needs someone to help them be better at what they do!

What can you do with a paper bag?

Here is an amazingly cute way to give a small or flat gift!  Perfect for 1 or 2 creative greetings!!! Over at the House of Shine a recent challenge had us using a paper bag and a grocery store.... and you come up with what you will from those two things.  I unfortunately did not participate in the challenge, but am now showcasing how I altered a paper lunch bag! Cute huh?  Got the idea from Mish Mash.

On to today's card, adorable (whipper snapper ??)friends stacked all together.  I don't think I have a sentiment on the inside, but it could be used for... Wishing you happy birthday from the gang!  Sorry we're so slow.....

Finishing the pre-school mural today.  Stay tuned, because I like to move it, move it!!!!!

If you believe my tweet, I have a bridge to sell ya!

So many projects, so little time.  Over at the House of Shine (formerly Highlowaha) I have been working on some things... some secret, some not... eventually they are hoping that some of my creative greetings!! can go in their on line awning shop and so those interested in being involved in the Yellow Envelope Project can purchase my cards for that, and/or actually any occasion.  Here is one of the cards, sticking along the yellow theme!  Because you SHINE much better with yellow and orange tones, don't you think??

I'm also working on the mural for the pre-school.  I've brought my supplies in from the garage and am painting on the ping pong table in the basement. Much cooler down there!  I'm just waiting for my styrofoam cutter to come in the mail and that project is almost done.  Pictures to come... some day.  I also notice in my files I have pictures of my garden from the front yard I haven't posted yet, pictures of Bubba's million dollar smile and a few other secret projects.  Today is the high schools last official day before finals.... so I've got to do some secret shopping before the kids are with me 24/7!

Up close and personal, the Brooklyn Bridge! You learn so much when you take a tour, the guide gives out facts, fast and mostly with a Brooklyn (so I think) accent.  The year built, who built it, one of the first suspension bridges.  It is magnificent and huge and all built before 1900.... what technology for those times!! Our tour guide Mindy and bus driver Russell, who of course are in the service industry and work for tips... stopped on the side of  one of the roads below the bridge and near the East River.... it was a bright and beautiful afternoon for a tour of Manhattan.

so I took a picture of our shadows from atop the double decker bus, so you can pick us out, DH is waving! Silly me, I had no idea that Manhattan was literally an island.  I mean I figured Long Island was an island... but didn't know New York City was an island.... all the bridges and ferries. Amazing!  I loved the tours!

Card of the Month

Just like any 'of the Month' club, you or someone you like a lot will receive a simply unique creative greeting!! (via snail mail) that they can send out to share a bit of sun SHINE & happiness. Similar cards to what you see below are sent with an envelope already for you to sign and address. Each month one cute COTM is mailed to you in a slightly larger envelope. Cards are by season or holiday. For example, cards going out in March will have an Easter theme, April spring theme, May mother's day etc...

Creative Greetings!! unique hand designed cards for friends who deserve more than a last minute grocery store card.

In the Spirit of 218 and Highlowaha Claudia, the faithful leader and life coach, has been writing some totally awesome stories about when books come to life for her family. So, I tried my hand at it last night. As you have read in previous posts, both of our kids have been doing quite well in their respective sports and actually, more so, they are great kids and their grades are pretty solid throughout this first month of school.

Once upon a time, last year... Bubba excitedly put his jeans in the wash after a morning of volunteering to clean out the cat room at a local animal shelter. Unbeknowst to the domestic goddess, his cell phone was in the front pocket. It came out of the dryer Nice and SHINEY and clean..... said cell phone did not work ever again. Bubba did not have a job, nor did he have any money to replace the cell phone, so he scrounged around and found a real old model... almost as big as a shoe (not really).

One day, Sissy wanted a brand spanking new cell phone, just BECAUSE. Well really, her OLD, OLD phone couldn't text very fast. She searched high and low and decided to buy one from EBAY (China)with birthday money. When the slow boat from there made it here.... she took one look at her purchase and decided "UGH thiswont do!!!!" So, she sold it to her brother and made absolutely no profit. How horrible! She was once again out of a phone. Well except for the old, old, old one. Bubba had been very happy with his stylus and cool Chinese phone, because after all, he is in his second year of Chinese language in high school. But something happened.... the touch face of the phone cracked and was ringing for no reason... was it code?

The cool parents that we are, decided it was time to renew two phone plans and while the teenage children were away studying hard at school, new phones with texting capability made it into the house. But how to give them to the children???.... we couldn't just hand them over and go "here"!!!

In the Spirit of 218, the Creative One {moi}(according to Bubba, the Fun One, but dad is the Funner One) decided to make a game of finding the phones. We offered both children a crisp $10 bill or a small scavenger hunt! They both willingly decided for the scavenger hunt and were off searching for clues through the palace!!! The last clue "Winter can be very cold ~ what would you wear?" took them to the coat closet and inside their jackets were the new cell phones, already charged and ready for them to put their sim card in.

Bubba and Sissy were very happy and totally surprised, and wondered what was the catch? (Their parents don't really do this kind of stuff very often!) No catch!

So, they lived happily ever after, until new better and faster technology changes things once again and they have to have the NEWEST and greatest!!! The end!

Ornament Twig Tree & Wacky Treasure Box

Hey.... here are two ideas posted for Highlowaha.... if you are curious, go back to that blog and check out what I mean!!!

A sample of a twig tree.... but you could make your own http://www.ornamentcollectors.com/item.asp?id=120&cat=5

I did take a picture of Cheryl's boxes!!!

PS: make sure you scroll down to today's actual post below this one!!!

Another Humiliating thing the dogs must endure

Over at Highlowaha we were given a challenge to create a funny photo. Here are two in a series I took to pass along the message to SHINE in all you do. I submitted the one with Tucker.

Hope it makes you giggle a little bit!!

Happy Friday!!

M&M Mosaic

Sissy and I were put to the challenge at Highlowaha: create a mosaic of your choice with one 12.6 ounce bag of M&M's.

Look how good these little chocolate bits of delight shine?

First thing is to separate them by color.

Then create.

Sissy's design: The M&M dude

Peggy's design: Ray the light bulb from HLA