Just to let you know how very...

...ahem...cough...yes, @N@L I am, when I get a set of stamps, I feel like I have to use every single one at least once. So when I got Never a Loss 4 Words from Kitchen Sink and saw the "blah blah blah" and the three "yada" stamps, I just knew I had to figure out a way of using them!

Here was my first thought...it's been a while since I've made one, but I thought that "blah blah blah" and "yada yada yada" would be good for a message pad:

Ingredients: Stamps - Kitchen Sink Stamps Playful Alphabet, Never a Loss 4 Words, Mix It Up - Monogram & Alphabet, Pretty Petals; Paper - Cool Caribbean, Whisper White; Ink - Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron; Other - 3 1/2" x 5" acrylic stand up photo frame, post-it notes, white gel pen.

Isn't this STINKIN' CUTE?!?!? (YILM!) To make the message pad stand, you create an insert for a 3 1/2" x 5" acrylic photo frame...but instead of standing the frame up, you lay it on it's back. Then you can stick a post it note pad to the top of the frame. Be careful to buy a good quality frame...the ones you find at dollar stores are usually too thin and break easily as you are writing on the pad. Because a standard post-it note pad was a little wider than I wanted, I used my craft pad to cut 1/2" off the side of the pad. Another view:

I was so in love with these colors, which are almost the same ones as the Verve challenge I did the other day (I left out the Pumpkin Pie) so I decided I had to make a card as well with the same elements:

Ingredients: Stamps - Kitchen Sink Stamps Playful Alphabet, Never a Loss 4 Words, Mix It Up - Monogram & Alphabet, Pretty Petals; Paper - Cool Caribbean, Whisper White; Ink - Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron; Other - white gel pen, Word Window Punch, silver brads, dotted grosgrain (Michael's), sponge wedges.

Sigh...I just amaze myself sometimes! (YILM!!)

I pulled out my very first set of Kitchen Sink Stamps, Pretty Petals, for this project. But it was hard to pull myself away from the brand new releases coming your way next week on June 3rd...if you want just a little peek, I will give you a tiny look at part of a card I made that uses three of the new sets:

Don't forget the contest to win FREE STAMPS from the Sink! And, if you want to see more sneak peeks of these stamps, check out Maria's Kitchen Sink Blog...she's got some great give aways and a new peek every day!

Yesterday was a busy day. Laurel graduated from the 8th grade. In parochial schools, this is a BIG deal! There was a mass, a graduation ceremony, then a dinner, followed by a bowling party! We didn't get home until midnight. Here's the lovely graduate (on the right) with her sister:

I have to admit I cried a couple of times. Laurel won a scholarship from the Men's Club of the parish...that surprised me (not that I thought she wasn't qualified, but somehow I expected that they would give them to kids who were parish members) and it made me very happy. Add to that the great slide show that one of the parents put together and I was a goner!

We spent a couple days gussying Laurel up for this. Her graduation present from us was getting her hair cut and highlighted, then we got her ears pierced yesterday. She looked GOJUS (and so did Emily!)

And now to acknowledge something wonderful I got this past week:

More love from Hawaii! Faye Tsukamoto sent me this selection of Hawaiian chocolate goodies and coffee! Here's her GOJUS rak card:

Isn't that STINKIN' Cute!?!? I will definitely have to CASE this one! Thank you Faye, for sending me chocolate when I desperately needed some! It's been a long hard week and the chocolate definitely has been helping keep me on an even keel!

Well, off to stamp some more! Ta!

Comments

[Sara SCS: Inkymom]

Oh my, Jan, you outdid yourself on that note holder! I am totally LOVIN it! I am pretty loyal to myself as a SU customer, but I may have to get that set from the sink!!

The picture of your girls is a good one too. My DH was raised in the Catholic school systems, so I totally can relate to the graduation being a big deal.

Thanks for all you do for me - I am a loyal daily reader of your blog....

[Susan]

Well, I love your cards as usual, Jan, but I think the most GOJUS thing in this blog post is the pic of your two lovely young ladies!! They are definitely beautiful creations of God!! Laurel looks like a going-to-high-school-soon girl, and Emily looks the part of the proud little sister! What grade will she be in? Why isn't your little guy in the pic? I can identify with the tears, that's for sure. Wait til you get to high school graduation, then college, then the weddings - whoo boy, I need a kleenex!! Grin!

Love ya,
Susan

[Bev]

Great colors on the message pad and card, Jan! I loooove the "yada yada yada" and "blah blah blah" together! :)

[Tricia]

Love the note holder!! What a great idea. So glad I found your blog! :)

[Danyelle]

Congratulations, MOM! What, no car?

[JulieHRR]

Warmest congrats, Janine, on Laurel's achievement! And, both your girls' are GAAAAW-JUS! I got misty eyed reading about YOU getting teary, as my oldest, also a daughter, graduates this coming Friday! Where did the years go? *sigh*

{{{{{{{{{Janine}}}}}}}}}}}

Many loving hugs, Julie

[paula]

Hey Janine, just catching up here, love the new stuff. Awesome note holder idea...I must use this because post it notes are never in the same place twice!!
Laurel {{& Emily}} look GREAT! I heard Laurel got a new do, and boy...she looks all the high schooler now! I LOVE their outfits and the colors!!! Gotta use those too! I have to say I did not cry at Jordans grad today, just happy for all the girls and watching them grow! Yeah, I'm done! Talk to ya soon, P

[Melanie]

Hi Jan, I love your blog. I read it everyday, but I have been wondering what the acronym "YILM" stands for??

Thanks and keep up the great work...you are an inspiration!

[Serenity_Stamper]

congrats on your daughter's graduation. and beautiful artwork as always. Lela aka Serenity

[Barbara (Oldstmpr)]

Beautiful colors Janine. Beautiful girls too. I can so clearly remember my 8th grade graduation from Catholic school...it WAS a BIG deal (even that long ago)!!

[kerry davis]

I LOVE that "let's talk" card - it's totally FAB! Just found your blog today - LOVE IT! =)

[Melanie Muenchinger]

Congrats to Laurel! :D
I LOVE your blah blah memo pad, that's adorable, will have to make one!

so you use every stamp in your sets at least once...? good to know! ;)

[Patty Bennett]

Congrats on the big day.. and both girls look darling!! :) I've got a similar popsicle card on my blog.. everyone is loving that cute card! http://pattystamps.typepad.com/pattys_stamping_spot/2008/05/popsicle-card.html