Twin pictures

Here are a couple of pictures of my twin and me! My sis looks slightly taller cause she was wearing heels but we're identical, born one minute apart. I'm the older one. Twins run in our family, on our dad's side. My husband has identical twin cousins, too. My sister and I are very close and are very similar & different in many ways. We went to a local twin event once and it was a trip seeing so many identical twins at one time! I just discovered this site about twins, Twins Network. It has a lot of info about twins. Cheers!

Sketch Challenge

I'm beginning to like these sketch challenges more and more because it helps me create my cards. Sometimes I can whip up a card and I'm done and happy with it. But then other times, that creative block hits me, and it could take me a couple of hours just to make one card, that I'm happy with. I can't be the only one who experiences this. I've heard of writer's block but I seriously think there's such a thing as a creative block, ha-ha!


Anyhoo, Tracy's Happy Place has a monthly Happiness Giveaway Challenge. I wanted to take part in this challenge because it's a sketch challenge. What's more of a challenge for me is that the card has to be for a guy. It's all in perfect timing because my girlfriend's having a birthday party for her husband, so here's his birthday card and my submission for Tracy's challenge! For a personal touch, I added some beads. Thanks, Tracy for the challenge! Check out Tracy's site. I love last weeks music clip with Chris Daughtry! I bought his CD after seeing his clip from Tracy's site.
Stamps set: Asian by Stamp Craft; DP: Memory Box and Fancy Pants.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

The door of opportunity won't open unless you do some pushing. ~Anonymous

Caffeine headache

Ever have one of those caffeine withdrawal headaches? I skipped my daily cup of coffee this morning and by late afternoon, my head was pounding. I decided to have a cup of coffee after dinner. Now, I can't sleep! So, here I am in front of the computer.

Here's a card that I'm sending out this week. I used heat & stick powder to set the glitter and a retired SU! stamp set, All That I've Seen. I punched out the sentiment from preprinted vellum paper that I bought from the scrapbook store.


Here's my power tool - the ATG 700 tape gun! I used to buy those double sided tape dispensers that fit inside the palm of your hand. After a while, I found myself buying two or three at a time whenever I went to the craft store. Then I was introduced to the ATG 700 tape gun. A roll of tape is less than $2.50 for 36 yards. Is that a bargain or what? I bought the tape gun from, framingsupplies.com, years ago. So far, this place has the best prices (in my opinion) for the ATG 700 dispenser and tape refills. I bought the adapter for the tape gun so I could use the 1/4 inch tape refill. My sister-in-law and I like the 1/4 inch tape. It seems to roll more smoothly than the standard tape size.

Okay, now I'm getting sleepy. I have to get up earlier than usual these next couple of days because the streets I usually take to work are going to be closed due to the All Star Game and all the festivities. So, I have to take an alternate route to and from work. But that's okay, all is good!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a great week!

Do something creative everyday ~ The Paper Source

Sketch Challenge

Hey, it's Friday! Just wanted to make a quick post of this card I made for Jen's sketch challenge. This is the first time I've ever worked off a sketch. I like the idea of sketches because sometimes it can take me forever to come up with a card layout. Sketches are great card making & scrapbooking tools. Have marvelous weekend!

Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you're alive, it isn't.
~Richard Bach

Steamed Muffins (Puto Bread)

My grandma used to cook the best Filipino foods. Although I know she's with me in spirit, I miss her.... and all her cooking. Sad thing is that I don't remember some of the names of the foods. I just remember how they looked and how good they tasted. I tried a recipe that I found on Allrecipes.com, called Chinky's Puto Bread, by Chinky Viola. Super easy and yummy!

2 3/4 cups cake flour
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 cup water
2 eggs
1 cup margarine, softened

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix cake flour, sugar and baking powder together. Pour in the water and evaporated milk and stir well. Mix in the eggs and butter.

Pour the mixture into molds or muffin pans. (I used small bite size muffin pans). Find a baking pan that your muffin pan will comfortably fit in. Place the baking pan on the oven rack. Carefully pour hot tap water into the baking pan holding the muffin pan.

Bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffin comes out clean. CAUTION: Be extremely careful not to burn your hands with the hot water or steam when you remove the pan out of the oven.

(Optional: top with grated cheese).

If you'd like to see the recipe on allrecipes.com, click here, Chinky's Puto Bread. I've tried a bunch of recipes on allrecipes.com, there are so many! This site has been a life saver when I need to cook something quick - especially with 3 hearty eating boys at home!

Enjoy!

Change your thoughts, and you change your world. ~Norman Vincent Peale

American Art Stamps

Hey all, it's the weekend! The fog has rolled in and the weather has cooled down. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE warm weather, it's just that we've had unusually warm weather lately.

Here are a couple of cards I made with Flower Gift, a stamp by Karen Stolper, American Art Stamps. Sorry for the bad picture. My camera does not, and can not, capture her awesome stamp design. I wish I could have her entire collection!

May you be inspired today!

Cat's Pajamas

Here are the cards we made at Stamp On Over. I love Cat's Pajamas stamps! Their quality and prices are great. Don't you just love the kitty on the Hot Stuff and Cheers cards? Too cute! They're all cute! Well, off to take the kids to their swim class. Cheers!

Stationery Set

I made a stationery set, consisting of 6 cards, for my friend Elizabeth, who's turning 50. And I must add, looks fabulous at 50! We both love angels so I decided to use the Angelic (retired) stamp set by SU! for these cards. This stamp set is one of my all time favorites! For the card in the middle, I used white cardstock, VersaMark and chalk. There are so many looks you can achieve with VersaMark and chalk! As for the stationery folder (not pictured) I followed a tutorial I found on Charmaine's blog.

Yay...it's a long weekend! I hope you enjoy yours!

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have mastered, you will never grow.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson