Tuesday, December 29, 2009

C O F F E E C H A T


Well Good Morning! It's been a while.....I seem to have dissappeared from my blog. But, I promise I have not been far....with teen kiddos quite involved with activities this mama has been busy with her full time job! Where has the time gone? We are already through one semester of a school year! Yikes! Winter has moved into our area and we had a white Christmas which was the best gift of all! I must confess for the first time in my entire life I was not ready for Christmas or even really in the spirit. In reflecting back, I would guess a couple of life events happened that affected my spirits.....my grandmother passed away....(my mother's mother) and it was all in the spectrum of a week. Very sudden after learning how sick she was. Then, my husband left his job this past summer after almost 20 years with a family business. And, thirdly my brother in law had an accident and fell off a ladder breaking both his legs. Gee, maybe that had something to do with my spirits being in a different place?? All these things happened in the latter part of this year. Well, my grandmother bless her soul is with my grandpa and as my cousin put it very nicely she and grandpa must be dancin' now! And my hubby, he is one intelligent, gifted man who is blessed by the Lord and will follow God's direction and God's will for his life. And thank goodness bones heal. I know my brother-in-law will be back strong soon!
Life IS good I can't complain too much.....my babies are healthy, happy and fill our life with joy and my furry baby TJ is always by my side! I am looking forward to 2010!! You want to know a silly reason why...my hubby laughs at me for this reason. I love "even" years!! Don't know why, maybe because I was born in an even year, graduated high school and college in an even year and married in an even year....who knows but I'm excited! LOL! Plus who doesn't love fresh new starts? I think this year is going to be incredible. I can't wait to see what God has in store! Soooooo, thanks for stopping by for some coffee chat. Please leave me a comment and share some coffee chat you have...are you ready for the new year? Let me know what is going on with you! I hope you have a blessed and joyous upcoming year in 2010! cheers!
~My coffee tags can be found at http://www.chocolatetulipdesign.etsy.com/

Thursday, November 5, 2009

J U S T B E C A U S E

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by....today is a "just because" day.....life is good, it's absolutely gorgeous in the 70's in November no doubt! I really want to be outside planting pansies but am working inside today doing this and that on house chores while running in and out of my studio getting work done! If you get a moment stop by my store at Etsy and take a peek at some of the really cute cards I have put up....one is here! Everyone needs a sweet greet "just because" and who doesn't love to get mail in the mailbox in this day in age of techno something or other!! Plus, I have several things on sale....stock up and save! I also have Christmas items coming very soon! www.chocolatetulipdesign.etsy.com

I hope you are having a sweet day and you are blessed, and maybe you can be a blessing to someone today "just because"! Smiles....see you soon!


Friday, October 9, 2009

my most recent "reserved listing" i. e. "custom order" yay!

Hello bloggers! Thought i would share with you the most adorable "custom order request" from an ETSY client. The request was for a custom pinwheel present card like the one i have posted here a few postings ago, as well as several for sale in my Etsy Store. http://chocolatetulipdesign.etsy.com/ This request was for a pinwheel card to be turned into a baby's 1st birthday invitation! They turned out so cute... what do you think? They are textured cardstock in hot pink & salmon with a beautiful hot pink sheer ribbon, a touch of tulle and polka dot ribbon! I am in love!! She sent a photo of a tutu for color inspiration that she had purchased for her little baby to wear on her birthday....now how cute is that?!! And it really was inspiring i based the invite colors, ribbon and tulle from that! So thanks for looking and i hope you enjoy these darling little creations!







Tuesday, October 6, 2009

A U T U M N & F A L L & seasons of change bring festive fall holiday tags

All these items can be found at my Etsy site for purchase!
Check it out you might just find something you like!! http://chocolatetulipdesign.etsy.com/
Look it's Jack he's back! :O)) Fun, whimsy and a fun twist on Halloween....i like to make Halloween a fun, more festive party atmosphere....have i told you that i am SCARED to death of this holiday? Literally anyone who knows me from childhood i was the scaredy cat and NEVER went into the haunted houses when my friends had sleepovers...i'm actually surprised they still invited me because it was really ridiculous. i still don't today....silly i know but that's ME! :OD

Okay, typically & honestly :O)) I'm not a cat lover, actually I think they don't like me ha ha.... if you have read any past postings I have put my cute cuddly TJ who is a Wire Fox Terrier on here....but I do love this Bold Black fun Cat tag!! Wouldn't this look so cute on just about anything Halloween?! I really like the ribbon found it at Hobby Lobby! My most favorite store IN the world!!

This is a fun & whimsy bat tag that would look soooo cute on
any party favor bag, gift bag or party name tags! EEEeeek do you suddenly feel something swarming around your head?! Ha Ha i kind of do!

Monday, September 21, 2009

P I N W H E E L paper present...i think you need one


Isn't this the cutest little custom card you've ever seen? I love this....a little sweet sentiment to send to that someone special! It has a country french feel with a romantic twist. I call it a Pinwheel paper present card....read more about it at my etsy site http://www.chocolatetulipdesign.etsy.com/ and pick one up! I have several different designs in this sweet little thing ....as always thanks for stopping by. Leave a comment I would love to hear your special thoughts!



Monday, September 7, 2009

H A P P Y L A B O R D A Y ! !



i hope each of you are having a fantastic Labor Day today! And that you have enjoyed your 3 day weekend! it has been not so great at our home my oldest son is sick with bronchitis and my husband and daughter are working today but we are trying to salvage it as best we can. i'm thinking of doing some rearranging of furniture to surprise my family when they come home! But, here is an ice cream tag that i thought i would share with you to celebrate the last weekend of summer celebration. it makes me sort of sad...i absolutely LOVE summertime and hope to live somewhere warm year around someday or at least have a second home in a toasty place! Some cool tools i used in making this tag are the friendship maker and the Geo Multi-maker from Creative Memories. i love their tools! So have a super fun day today! Eat lots of ice cream, hot dogs and hamburgers! Happy Labor Day!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

BOOOOOO!! Are you ready for creepy crawly things, Halloween and fall?.....we are having unusally cool weather in these parts of the USA. it makes me kind of sad that summer is leaving us but it is always really neat when fall comes rushing in....the beautiful leaves turn and there is a crispness in the air! Well, here is another card i have whipped up using Creative Memories Limited Edition Trick or Treat paper pack! The big spider was made using the CM Black and White paper line....in particular the spider was made with a paper flower which resembles silk flower embellishments. They are very cool as well as CM has paper ribbon. It is pretty neat to use because you don't have to worry about using fabric glue to apply it. Also used, are CM black swirly ABC letters, paper and stickers from the trick or treat pack and some sanding to distress. Start pulling out those fall decorations it will be here soon....thanks for stopping by!

Monday, August 31, 2009

H E A R T to H E A R T

Good Monday morning!! Thanks for stopping by.....i captured a precious moment while walking by my back windows the other day that look out on our backyard. To my surprise i saw a special moment between my husband and my son. i call it "HEART to HEART".....you can read about it on the journaling on my layout. This is a digital design using Creative Memories Storybook Creator Plus software. Love, love, love this program....i have mentioned it many times here you should check it out on their website creativememories.com i hope you have a glorious day and admire something beautiful in this world we live in because there are too many little moments like this to let slip by....i think i stood at the window, watching, wondering exactly what was being said and snapping photos without them seeing for at least 10 minutes. Go see what you can stumble on today and come back and share with me!! i would love that!

Friday, August 21, 2009

T R I C K or T R E A T in August?

Happy Friday blog readers! Am I rushing the fall?! Ummmm, no because I DO love summertime BUT, I have gotten the privilege of receiving the Limited Edition Trick or Treat Addition pack from Creative Memories to have some play design time with! Woooohooo! and it is playfully CUTE!! The papers are awesome with bold color and prints....I love printed paper....'cause I'm a "detail" gal you know. The papers have these reeeeally cute printed owl and spider web in the corners of the papers as well as some rockin' stickers!! So, enjoy my little "treats" for you today.....this limited additions pack becomes available September 1st!! So, call your Creative Memories consultant or go online to http://www.creativememories.com/ and use the consultant locator if you do not have a consultant. You can also just order online and have it shipped straight to your door!! Other items used in these projects were The Creative Memories Tag Maker, circle maker, ABC Letters in simple and swirly, large and small sizes. These items are currently available....enjoy!







Wednesday, August 12, 2009

1st Day of School AUGUST 2 0 0 9

So, I have dinner on and am doing a little reflecting at the end of the day as I smell spaghetti and meat sauce bubbling. It was a good day....the house didn't get messed up, no shoes all over, no clothes, NO DIRTY dishes in the sink and me cleaning the kitchen 3 times a day, I didn't hear spongebob or icarly screaming out of the TV....in fact I didn't have the TV on all day. Just beautiful solitude! It was glorious and I could actually think! BUT, I did find myself racing against the clock to get my work done before the kids hit the house so I could be mom and hear about their awesome day and which teacher they loved and which teacher well you know ;o) Sorry, but I was a teacher once and I know! But, to really sit down in front of them and LISTEN to everything they had to say because we had spent time apart and I sent them into that big world without me and to see what they had to bring back to share with me. Kind of like Mama bird! LOL! It is nice to have some structure back and to have some time of my own but I do love when those pitter patter feet come running in the door from the bus or the chitter chatter in the car all the way home from my youngest. This is my purpose to be here for them as they go out and come back home daily.....I love teaching them and raising them up so they are strong, courageous, caring, loving to others and then for them to have a place they can't wait to come back too.....yeaaaa I know I have been reflecting today in the solitude... as much as I am excited about the structure and having some time to wear my "woman" hat instead of my "mom" hat it does always remind me as we start another new school year how much my kids have grown up so much over the summer! My sweet daughter who is a junior in high school texted me to let me know she had made it to the "big" school at 8:24 am this morning. She is at the "high school" where only junior and seniors go.....wait a minute wasn't it yesterday I was just taking her to kindergarten it is so clear in my mind, I can see it, feel it, taste it....and yes, you guessed, I cried after I read the text....this cannot be she is out there without me but cares enough to let me know she made it....she was nervous and had no idea where her classes were.....so yea there you have it. That was my day.....bittersweet....just me & the fuzzy dog, solitude and work, work, work! But, I DID love getting to design today without interruptions! I can't wait for you to see what I am working on for Creative Memories as soon as I get the word that I can share I will.....stay tuned! Now back to icarly screaming out of the TV and to eat yummy spaghetti! Awww this is heaven!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

















Aren't these fun?! Okay, i'm revealing some of my "likes" or should i say "loves". i also love crowns! Can you tell by my blog header? Maybe i secretly would have loved to have been a princess! Gorgeous gowns and pretty bling! Love it! So i thought i would share some fun tags i have made from inspiration of crowns. The pink crown is a Martha Stewart punch that i have and love! The other crown tags are some gorgeous paper i found a while back that had crowns embossed in silver on it and i took my circlemaker (creative memories tool) and punched out just the embossed crowns and mounted them on layers of yummy cardstock! Topped off with some ribbon and twine and you have the cutest little pieces of art to adorn a gift or scrapbook layout, bookmark anywhere you want to tuck a sweet little work of art! Hope this gave you an idea or two!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Wisdom teeth not so "wise"

Have had my daughter on my mind the last 36 hours....bless her heart she had her wisdom teeth out on June 21st and did everything by the book to take care of them so she wouldn't get an infection. Weeell, poor thing came in night before last at around 10pm and said, "does my jaw look swollen cause it really hurts"....."oh baby, yes it does" :O( i felt so bad for her. BUT, i was so thankful it was on a Thursday night so i called the oral surgeon that took them out and we took her in yesterday morning and sure enough....icky food got stuck in there and blew her gum up and hence the jaw got swollen so that she was sporting the chipmunk look once again! The Dr. drained it, irrigated and put her back on meds. Gosh, what a pain LOLOL no pun intended! Anywhooo, she is a trooper and has gone to work today with swollen jaw (it does look much better) and i just admire her so much. i'm a proud mommy of such an independent, brave young lady! Many hugs to you dear!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

F L I P P I E S Fever



Okay, my friends look what i found!! Those who know me know that i loooove flip flops and often refer to them as flippies. i was out at the mall and found these little cuties...i love them so much!
i was out shopping for a purse and found these instead! LOL! While on vacation i was looking and found nothing and just about gave up. You know when you aren't looking for something and then you find everything yea it was one of those trips! These flippies are pretty darn cool i may have to do a creation that is inspired by these.....come back soon and see if i've posted something i'm feeling creative! Funny the things that inspire you huh?! Thanks for stopping in....hope you leave with a little inspiration today! :OD Oh and by the way i actually took the photos of my feet myself! impressive huh?!!



Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Diva Dragonfly



This week seems to be nature week! :O) After posting some actual nature shots below from my garden i remembered i had a dragonfly paper punch! Check out these fun tags...i love them! The colors are so yummy! These are so fun for a gift to add that extra touch of whimsy or on a scrapbook layout, to dangle from a summer tea glass at a party or even a bookmark! i used some gorgeous papers from a cardstock line called "me & my BIG ideas"....great vibrant colors to work with! Oh and i got the punch from my favorite store Hobby Lobby!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Butterfly B U Z Z





Gosh, where has another week gone? i wanted to post something all last week and it slipped away! Well, here is a digital layout i created with CM SB+ and the Cottage Digital Kit was used. i got some of the most beautiful shots of two butterflies in my dahlia garden! i was mesmerized...i love moments like these you know the ones where you are suppose to slow down and enjoy the little things in life...well, i did because not too many of those moments come along with a family of five! LOL! Enjoy my beautiful photos i got of the butterfly AND a dragonfly! The dragonfly showed up the next day and hung out on a pretty iron garden decoration i have in my garden...funny huh?!









I almost forgot to mention the cutest little ladybug I found too....isn't she cute she sort
of turned the color of the flower!



And lastly, my favorite furry guy.....toby jack! He always loves hanging out in the backyard with all the critters....loves to chase the squirrels! "Squirrel did you say Squirrel" LOL....that's in a movie right?!

Monday, July 20, 2009



Awwww Monday mornings! i actually love them! it is the day i feel most productive and it seems as the week wears on i get more worn out with all the kiddo activity! And you know Mondays are just a new week, fresh slate and i'm so thankful i have been given that privilege of another day & another week :O) So let's start this one out with a layout that really ROCKS! My son Drew is quite the musician...i love this digital page! it was created with Creative Memories Storybook Creator Plus with the Discover Rock Grunge kit and the Discover Motor Grunge kit elements. Some of the elements were changed to different colors to coordinate with my photos used on the page. I love it!... hope you do to! Enjoy your Monday and be productive!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Pool Party Pizzazz


Happy Friday! Here is an invitation i created for a very fun reunion i will be having tomorrow! i can't wait! After a couple of months of waiting for this day it is finally here! i started a FB (facebook) account in January of this year and have reconnected with lots of old friends from high school....we have decided to get together here at my house. Soooooo, i wanted to create my own invite and did using Creative Memories Storybook Plus software....yes, i mention it alot don't i? After creating my design in the software using various kit components I printed them out on cardstock....voila your own custom invite and you didn't even have to go to the store and better yet pay big bucks for custom work! You did it yourself! Well, you should try it! it is amazing! Have a super duper weekend!

i or I

An observation i have made this morning as i am typing this post is that i like to type the little "i" instead of big "I" i don't know why but from a design standpoint i think it looks cooler! Don't you think?! ha haa well if not then that's okay ;o) Since i have moved more in the direction of designing than selling i'm always looking for things that look really creative or set me apart....so just thought i would share that this morning! TGIF! Have a fantabulous weekend! Oh and that is not a real word just one in the design world i picked up from another very creative designer! :OD Have a good one!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

You got it didn't you?!

LOL! So if you are reading this you must have gotten my email or saw my FB status! :OD Yea then it worked and i am getting pretty good on the computer! Ha ha.....hope you come back and check things out but if you do my little golden rule is you must leave me a comment! idk(i don't know) for those learning blog lingo or text lingo :OD.... it could be just "hi" or on anything regarding that I've posted or "hey when you gonna post something" hee hee This is so exciting for me....i am doing something i love and so excited to see where this journey of design goes....you know that feeling when you feel like you are starting to figure things out and you know the purpose of what you are suppose to do in life?! Yea, it has taken a while but i'm 41 and starting to feel it! God is good and he is faithful and i'm so thankful that he has THE plan for me and i'm starting to figure out what he wants based on how he "designed" me! it's all good! Making a difference in lives and sharing Him with gifts he has given you...when a person figures that out.....YEEEA it's all good!


So this is one of my favorite photos of Jordan and me....we were getting ready to leave to go to her end of year Pom Banquet...March '09 finishing out her Sophomore year on Union Varsity Pom. We were all dressed up for an evening out and a girl has got to have her goodies when she leaves the house! Notice the camera, purse, cell phone, sunglasses and fancy heels at the top of the page?! This is a digital scrapbook layout created by me with Creative Memories Storybook Plus software. CM does have templates too that you can just drop your photos into and it's so simple!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Creative Memories Digi layout

Here is a digital layout I created with Creative Memories Storybook Plus software. Everything in this layout was created with the Rockstar Digital kit...I love this software it can do so many things! I also created my blogwear banner and blinkie with it! It can be used for cards, tags & whatever your creative brain can think up! Fun to print off the embellishments and use in a hybrid layout! I hope you enjoy! Check it out at http://www.creativememories.com/ or ask me for a consultant referral!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Okay, this is suppose to be our family beach photo for 2009. It was so windy!! Can you tell? The forecast had rain all week so we decided to take our photo on the 2nd day of vaca...we usually wait until towards the end but we were afraid we wouldn't get it due to a rainy week. Well, I think the storm was moving in....so we shall try to get it later in the week maybe....booooo.


This is a great one of the kids don't you think?!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Vaca 2009 is here!


Graceland in Memphis, TN July1st.....we have always talked about stopping while traveling through to Destin but never had done it. Well, guess what this time we did! We had a great time too...we spent the afternoon there on Thursday and then got back on the road and stopped in Madison, MS outside of Jackson at the Hilton Garden Inn. Then, on the next day to Destin just 5 hours away. Elvis' estate was pretty cool....smaller than I thought but a really neat place....I really wanted to go back through a second time after going through once. I am such a visual person that I was completely stimulated by all the very cool things he had that I didn't get to listen closely to all of the history of everything....darn! Besides his estate we saw his collection of cars & two planes, his hollywood era and several souvenir shops with some good junk we bought! LOL Took a million photos but I will only post a few for you :OD

















These two photos are of Elvis' living room....
Can you believe this was Elvis' kitchen? Really not what I expected.....it had carpet, small, not very fancy and very dark! And check out the very cool TV room where he hung out and watched more than one TV program at a time!



Okay, I'm in LOVE with this photo!

Sorry sweetie ;O)